A prominent chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State, Wale Oriade, has been abducted by armed men in Ibadan, the state capital.
The incident occurred around 7:06 pm on Wednesday at Oriade’s office in PJ Square Shopping Complex, beside the Nigerian National Petroleum Company station at Elewure, along Iyana Ajanla, Akala Expressway, New Garage.
Eyewitnesses reported that the attackers arrived in a blue Micra vehicle with two occupants—a driver and an armed man—who forcibly seized Oriade and drove away. “The precision and nature of the attack have caused serious concern within his community,” an eyewitness said.
As of Thursday, no ransom demand had been received, and Oriade’s whereabouts remain unknown.
In a statement, the Oyo State APC confirmed the abduction and called for immediate intervention by the Nigeria Police Force. The statement, signed by APC Oyo South Senatorial Chairman Mojeed Olaoya and the state Youth Leader John Aremu, urged security authorities to launch a swift, coordinated, and intelligence-driven rescue operation.
The party emphasized that a timely rescue would provide relief to Oriade’s family and reassure the public of the police’s commitment to protecting lives and property. It also commended the police for ongoing efforts to maintain law and order, urging heightened vigilance during this critical period.
Reacting to the incident, former Senate Leader and party chieftain Teslim Folarin condemned the kidnapping, describing it as “shocking and unacceptable.” He called on security agencies to intensify efforts to ensure Oriade’s immediate and safe rescue.
“This is a deeply troubling development. I urge our security operatives to deploy all necessary intelligence and resources to secure his prompt release. My prayers are with his family during this difficult time,” Folarin said.
He further stressed the importance of tighter security collaboration across the state to curb the rising wave of kidnappings and appealed to residents to remain calm while providing credible information to aid rescue efforts.
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