Wale Oriade, a prominent chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the Ibadan South-West local government area of Oyo State, has successfully regained his freedom after spending over a month in captivity. Oriade had been abducted by armed gunmen on December 3, 2025, an incident that sparked widespread concern within political circles and the community.

The abduction occurred around 7:00 PM as Oriade was leaving his office, situated in the Akala Expressway area of Ibadan, the capital city of Oyo State. The details of the incident were initially brought to public attention by an Instagram user, Taoreed Sanusi. According to Sanusi, three armed men forcibly seized Oriade and compelled him into a blue Micra vehicle.

Sanusi further elaborated on the immediate aftermath of the kidnapping, stating, "The assailants fled the scene in an unknown direction, and his phone was taken. His safety remains our utmost priority." This statement underscored the gravity of the situation and the immediate concerns for Oriade's well-being following his disappearance.

The long period of uncertainty concluded on Saturday morning when Olawale Sadare, the Oyo State APC Publicity Secretary, confirmed Oriade’s release. Sadare conveyed the news through a post on his Facebook page, succinctly stating: “Breaking, Wale Oriade regains freedom from kidnappers.” This announcement brought relief to many who had followed the story of his abduction.

As of the time of reporting, the Oyo State Police Command had not yet issued any official statement regarding the latest development or Oriade's release. The absence of a police statement leaves some aspects of the incident, such as the circumstances of his release or any arrests made, unconfirmed by official law enforcement channels.