Gunmen Abduct Top APC Chieftain

Gunmen have abducted an All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain in Ibadan, Oyo State. Hon. Wale Oriade, a prominent party figure in Ibadan South West Local Government Area, was taken by armed attackers on Wednesday evening shortly after leaving his office along Akala Expressway. Witnesses said he was forced into a blue Micra car by three men, and his phone was seized before the vehicle sped off.

The incident was first shared online by Instagram user Taoreed Sanusi, who expressed concern for Oriade’s safety. The Micra taxi model, widely used for commercial transport in Ibadan, has previously been associated with criminal activity in the city.

Reacting to the kidnapping, Senator Teslim Folarin, the 2023 APC governorship candidate in Oyo State, condemned the attack and described it as another distressing indication of insecurity in the country. He urged security agencies to act swiftly and commit all necessary resources to secure Oriade’s release.

Folarin also extended sympathy to the victim’s family and appealed for calm among residents and party members while security operatives work on the case. He emphasized the need to fortify the state’s security systems and enhance intelligence efforts, expressing hope that Oriade will return home safely.