Ibadan, Oyo State — A prominent chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State, Wale Oriade, has regained his freedom after spending 39 days in captivity, the party’s state publicity officer confirmed on Saturday. The development underscores persistent insecurity and the prevalence of politically connected kidnappings in the state.
The release was confirmed by Mr. Wale Sadare, Public Relations Officer of the APC in Oyo State, in a telephone interview from Ibadan, the state capital. “Yes, I can confirm it. He (Oriade) has been released,” Sadare told The PUNCH Online.
Oriade was abducted on Wednesday, December 3, 2025, at about 7:06 pm, while at his office located in PJ Square Shopping Complex, beside the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited station, Elewure, along Iyana Ajanla, Akala Expressway, New Garage, Ibadan. Eyewitness accounts indicate that the attackers arrived in a blue Nissan Micra with two occupants — a driver and an armed assailant — who forcibly seized Oriade and drove off.
An eyewitness told The PUNCH Online, “The nature of the attack and the precision with which it was carried out have caused deep concern within his community.”
Investigations by our correspondent revealed that a ransom was paid to the abductors before Oriade was freed, although the amount has not been independently confirmed as of publication. There has been no official statement from the Oyo State Police Command regarding the circumstances of his release at the time of filing this report.
The attempted abduction and subsequent release of a politically connected figure come amid broader concerns over rising kidnappings across southwestern Nigeria, where residents, business leaders, and political figures have been targeted in recent months. Previous incidents in the state include abductions of community leaders and executives, contributing to public apprehension about the security environment.
Security analysts have noted that kidnappings often occur along major roads and urban centres, with criminal groups reportedly exploiting gaps in patrol coordination and intelligence sharing.
The trend has prompted calls for enhanced collaboration between the Nigeria Police Force, Department of State Services, and local vigilante groups to address both the immediate threat and underlying conditions enabling such attacks.
Political party officials in Oyo State have expressed relief at Oriade’s release while urging law enforcement agencies to intensify efforts to apprehend those responsible and prevent similar incidents in the future.
As the investigation continues, residents and political operatives in Oyo State are watching closely for further updates from security agencies and authorities regarding both the incident and broader measures to secure vulnerable communities.
