A senior member of the All Progressives Congress in Oyo State, Wale Oriade, was abducted by armed assailants on Wednesday evening in Ibadan, the state capital.
According to eyewitnesses, the incident occurred around 7:06 pm at Oriade’s office in PJ Square Shopping Complex, near the NNPC station at Elewure, along Akala Expressway, New Garage.
The attackers reportedly arrived in a blue Micra vehicle with two occupants—a driver and an armed man—who forcefully seized Oriade and drove off.
“The precision and boldness of the attack are deeply alarming,” an eyewitness said.
As of Thursday morning, no ransom demand had been made, and Oriade’s whereabouts remained unknown.
In a statement, the Oyo State APC confirmed the abduction and appealed to the Nigeria Police Force for urgent intervention.
The statement, jointly signed by APC Oyo South Senatorial Chairman, Mojeed Olaoya, and State Youth Leader, John Aremu, called for a “swift, coordinated, and intelligence-driven rescue operation.”
The party added, “A timely rescue will not only bring relief to Oriade’s family but also reassure residents that the police remain proactive in safeguarding lives and property.”
Reacting to the incident, former Senate Leader and APC chieftain Teslim Folarin described the abduction as “shocking and unacceptable.”
He urged security agencies to intensify efforts, saying, “This is a deeply troubling development. I call on our security operatives to deploy all necessary resources to ensure Oriade’s immediate and safe return. My prayers are with his family during this difficult time.”
Folarin also stressed the importance of stronger security collaboration across the state and appealed to residents to remain calm while providing credible information to aid the rescue effort.
The Oyo State Police Command has yet to issue an official statement on the abduction.
