A prominent leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State, Wale Oriade, has been released after enduring thirty-nine terrifying days in the custody of kidnappers. He regained his freedom last Saturday and has now provided a detailed account of the traumatic incident.
The Abduction: A Brazen Attack in Ibadan
The event took place on Wednesday, December 3, 2025, at approximately 7:06 p.m. Oriade was at his office situated within the PJ Square Shopping Complex in the Elewure area, close to the NNPC station along the Akala Expressway at Iyana Ajanla, New Garage, Ibadan. His ordeal began when a Nissan Micra suddenly blocked his vehicle. Four armed men, brandishing AK-47 rifles, forcefully dragged him into their car.
"They covered my face with a cap and placed headphones on me that played loud music," Oriade recounted. The kidnappers then drove him around the city for several hours before finally arriving at an apartment where he would be held.
Life in Captivity: Interrogation and Hope from Media Reports
During his captivity, his abductors, who spoke fluent English but never revealed their identities, questioned him extensively about his work, family, and past activities. After several weeks, they commenced ransom negotiations with his family, later asserting that an agreement had been finalized.
A surprising source of hope for Oriade came from his captors themselves. They informed him that his abduction was receiving widespread media coverage. "They told me, ‘Everywhere is full of your story. How can you be this popular and say you don’t have money?’ That statement actually gave me hope," he revealed in a statement issued on Thursday, January 15, 2026, in Ibadan.
A Mysterious Release and Heartfelt Gratitude
His release on January 10, 2026, mirrored his abduction. He was blindfolded, driven around for hours, and eventually dropped off at an unspecified location within Ibadan. Oriade expressed profound shock and appreciation for the massive support he received from the public upon his return.
He extended heartfelt thanks to a wide network of supporters who stood by his family. This includes party leaders like former Senate Leader Teslim Folarin, Minister of Power Bayo Adelabu, Senators Sharafadeen Ali and Yunus Akintunde, as well as Akin Alabi, Akeem Agbaje, and Olamiju Alao-Akala. He also thanked the state APC Youth Leader John Aremu, Publicity Secretary Wale Sadare, and Kareem Tajudeen.
Oriade did not forget security agencies and others, appreciating the Executive Governor of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde, the Director of the Department of State Services, the state Police Command (especially the AKS Department), the APC media team, religious leaders including the Chief Imam of Ibadan, and community associations that held vigils for his safe return.
A Plea for Forgiveness and Final Thanks
In a poignant appeal, Oriade asked for forgiveness from anyone he might have wronged in the past. "This is the highest punishment anyone can go through. Please, find it in your heart to forgive me, whoever I might have wronged," he pleaded.
He concluded by expressing his deepest gratitude to his immediate family and to Nigerians both at home and abroad who supported the efforts for his release and provided spiritual upliftment during what he described as a difficult and mysterious period in his life.
