Nigeria's former Secretary of Government of the Federation, Olu Falae Reportedly Regained Freedom.
How our boss was abducted – Falae’s PA, driver
•Negotiation with abductors break down
•Abductors want N90m, family offers N2m
•There ‘ll be dire consequences if…. – Afenifere
•YUF, OPC, Agbekoyas, IPAC, PRONACO, LP decry kidnap•Abductors want N90m, family offers N2m•There ‘ll be dire consequences if…. – Afenifere•YUF, OPC, Agbekoyas, IPAC, PRONACO, LP decry kidnap
Unconfirmed reports filtering around the web indicated that Nigeria's Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Chief Olu Falae who was kidnapped earlier this week has regained his freedom.
The elder statesman was kidnapped on Monday at his farm in Ondo State by people described as Fulani herdsmen, who later demanded for a hundred million Naira ransom. It is not clear if any ransom was paid before he was released.
President Muhammadu Buhari earlier today condemned the abduction of Falae and ordered security agencies to ensure his safe rescue.THE driver and the personal assistant to former Secretaryr to the Government of the Federation SGF, Chief Oluyemisi Falae, yesterday, gave a detailed account of how their boss was abducted by Fulani herdsmen on Monday.
Coming a day that negotiation between Falae’s family and his abductors is feared to have broken down, the aides said the herdsmen have carried out their threat of attacking Falae, which they made before the police after a recent clash.
I’m not aware of any negotiation – Raji, Falae’s PA
Speaking with newsmen, Falae’s Personal Assistant, Capt Moshood Raji (retd) said he was not aware of any negotiation with the kidnappers, noting that security operatives would be in the best position to confirm or deny if there was any breakdown in negotiation between the kidnappers and the Falae family.
He, however, said the abduction was carefully planned between the Fulani herdsmen and outside influence as there have been clashes between the Fulani herdsmen and Falae over the destruction of his farm produce.
Fulani herdsmen
According to him, four of the suspected kidnappers were armed with AK.47 rifles while the rest had cutlasses. He disclosed that only one of them, who identified Chief Falae was masked while other members were not.
He said: “About a month ago, there was a clash between the herdsmen and Chief when some cows destroyed maize on the farm. I was the one that led the policemen to arrest them. We arrested some and detained them for about four days. Chief Falae said he has no problem with them that they have to sign an undertaking that they will not go there again.
They signed an agreement that they will not go there again. The Fulani Secretary signed for them. The secretary then said I should caution Oga (Falae) that he should go and fence his farm. He said if he dared harm any cow or kill any of their cows, there would be trouble. He said that before the officer in charge of SARS.
“They have carried out the threat. What they destroyed was about N500,000.00 but N120,000 was paid and the chief distributed the money to all his workers when it was brought to him”, he added. Falae’s driver, David Ogunleye who witnessed the invasion narrated the ordeal to newsmen.
Ogunleye said he and others were sent to clear the weeds blocking the dam in the farm and on their return, they were attacked by the Fulani herdsmen. According to him, “as we were coming, we saw seven Fulani herdsmen, they attacked us. They started shooting, I tried to reverse the car but unfortunately my car got stuck. It was there they seized me and told me to take them to where our boss was.
I told them Oga (Falae) was in the farm but they would not listen. We took them to where Oga was and Chief surfaced and asked what the problem was. From there, they took him away. The manager that was even in the car was trying to escape and they used the cutlass to cut him on the head”, he said.
Contacted the Police spokesperson in the state, Wole Ogodo, said that the Command was on top of the situation and is making frantic efforts to ensure that the former SGF is rescued.
Negotiation breaks down
Chief Falae was abducted on Monday at about 1pm by some gun-wielding Fulani herdsmen, who invaded his farm located at Ilado village in Akure North Local Council of Ondo State.
Less than three hours after the former Finance Minister was kidnapped, the abductors contacted the family, demanding for N100 m as ransom. A family source said that the kidnappers made another phone call to the wife, Rachel, almost 10 hours after the initial contact on Monday and agreed to reduce the ransom to N90m from the initial N100m they demanded in the morning after much pleading.
While the family was said to have offered N2million, the kidnappers reportedly banged the phone insisting on the initial sum. The source said that the abductors promised to call the family “back today (Tuesday) but as at this moment, they have not called.”
It was also gathered that the abductors agreed to reduce the ransom by N10m because they said the Afenifere chieftain is a man of integrity and well respected in the country.
Eminent persons
The former Minister’s residence in Akure, yesterday, was thronged by eminent persons, who met with the wife. The visitors include Ondo State Deputy Governor, Alhaji Lasisi Oluboyo, who led other members of the State Executive Council; Akure Traditional Council led by the Lisa of Akureland, High Chief James Olusoga; former special Adviser to the late Chief Adebayo Adefarati on Political Matters, Chief Segun Adegoke; political office holders and chieftains of the opposition All Progressives Congress, APC, in the state.
Afenifere, OPC, S-West farmers, YUF, LP decry kidnap
Meanwhile angry reactions, yesterday, greeted the abduction of the former SGF. Among those who decried the abduction of the former Minister of Finance include, Pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere; founder and President of Oodua Peoples Congress, OPC, Dr Frederick Fasehun; OPC’s National Coordinator, Otunba Gani Adams, the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), Pro-National Conference Organisations (PRONACO) and the Labour Party, LP.
On its part, farmers in the South West have issued a 24-hour ultimatum for the unconditional release of Chief Falae or risk the wrath of its members across the Yorubaland.
Nothing must happen to him, Afenifere warns
Afenifere warned of dire consequences if anything untoward happens to Falae. Its National Publicity Secretary, Mr Yinka Odumakin said: “Afenifere is compelled to issue this strong warning on the abduction of one of our leaders,Chief Olu Falae by Fulani herdsmen for over 24 hours now.
The statement reads: “Chief Falae has had running battles with the Fulani cattle rearers for sometime now as they continued to devastate his farmland,a scourge which farmers in Yorubaland has suffered for decades now.
“We do not imagine that some Yoruba traders would go and abduct Maitama Sule or Adamu Ciroma in the North and there won’t be a festival of blood on the streets within hours. We therefore call on the leaders of the North to reach out to these herdsmen to release Chief Falae immediately. Nobody can predict the consequences, if anything untoward happens to Chief Falae in the custody of the herdsmen.”
Fasehun orders manhunt of kidnappers
Founder of the OPC, Dr. Fasehun, has ordered OPC operatives to immediately launch a manhunt in Ondo State and beyond, for the kidnapped politician. Fasehun described the kidnap as an assault and insult on the Yoruba people, and challenged security operatives and agencies to produce Falae within 48 hours.
He said, “When we heard that Falae was kidnapped we thought it was impossible, as kidnappers would not be mad enough to kidnap a man of peace, a man who has selflessly served Nigeria. Falae is by any standard a leader of the Yoruba people, a leader of Nigeria and a significant leader in Africa. He is a leader of Afenifere. He was a leader of NADECO. And any assault on him is an assault on Nigeria and Nigerians.”
Falae’s abduction, a sin against humanity—Gani Adams
Also, Otunba Gani Adams said: “It is worrisome that the nation is descending into an era when a citizen is not safe even in his own home. The trend in which Fulani herdsmen would invade private farms in our land and vandalise it is gradually making a return.
However, we would want it to be known that the attribute of Yoruba people to be accommodating is not something that should be abused. For us, being accommodating is a virtue that was inculcated into us by our forefathers and it should therefore not be seen as a weakness by anybody.”
Falae’s abduction, a horrifying report- Ajulo, LP scribe
Also, a legal practitioner and social activist Dr Kayode Ajulo, described the act as “shocking, traumatizing and downright satanic” while also expressing dismay that the culprits even disregarded the age and position of the septuagenarian.
Security agencies
Ajulo, who is the National Secretary of the Labour Party, called on the Nigerian Police Force and other security agencies to leave no stone unturned in the manhunt for the culprits and ensure that Chief Falae is rescued and returned to his family. On its part, the Yoruba Unity Forum condemned the abduction describing it as a war.
Chairman of the group, Ayo Ladigbolu said: “The kidnapping generally is disturbing especially to any right thinking person, we are particularly unhappy that a leader of our country, among who was once a secretary to the government of this country, a man who had served as a minister in Nigeria, a leader of a national political party, a presidential candidate in Nigeria, someone who is known throughout the world as a man of peace, can be handled this way by people who were alleged to be Fulani herdsmen.”
S-West farmers issue ultimatum: Besides, farmers in the South West farmers issued a 24 hours ultimatum to Falae’s abductors within which to release him unhurt. The farmers, under the aegis of All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) South West geo-political zone declared that the association was ready to mobilise all farmers in the South West region to comb all the jungles as well as the nooks and crannies in search of Falae, who is a member of the association.
The AFAN S/W Zonal Coordinator, Olusegun Dasaolu called on security agencies to, as a matter of urgency, live up to expectation and redeem their image by ensuring that Chief Falae is released unconditionally and unhurt.
Ondo House, APC task security agencies
The Ondo State House of Assembly and the chairman of the APC in Ondo State, Mr Isaac Kekemeke have called on the state government and the security agencies in the state to ensure that the abductors are brought to book. The House, at a plenary presided over by the Speaker, Mrs Jumoke Akindele called on the Federal Government to consider the 2014 confab report, which recommended state police as the solution to increasing cases of insecurity.
IPAC, PRONACO urge immediate release
Also condemning the abduction, the Inter Party Advisory Council of Nigeria (IPAC) described the abduction of Falae as wicked and barbaric and called for his immediate release.
IPAC National Chairman, Mallam Bashir Ibrahim Yusuf, in a statement, said: ‘’It is outrageous, barbaric and wicked to abduct an elder statesman for any reason or for no reason whatsoever. IPAC demands the immediate release of Chief Olu Falae to rejoin his traumatized family.
‘’Chief Falae is the National Chairman of Social Democratic Party (SDP) and a strong pillar of IPAC. He is an octogenarian whose health should be fragile. He deserves respect and honour and should be so treated by all Nigerians including the abductors.
We urge security agents to be alive to their constitutional responsibility of protecting lives and property of Nigerians in tandem with section 14 (2)b of the 1999 constitution as amended which states that the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government.’’
Also, Spokesperson of Pro National Conference Organisation, PRONACO, Veteran Olawale Okunniyi said: “Chief Olu Falae is too important to Nigeria and the Yoruba people for any group of people to imagine such act against him.
First he has served Nigeria in various capacities especially as number Three man, Secretary to the Federal Government at that time and Finance Minister, after which he was popularly chosen as Presidential candidate in 1999 receiving votes from all over the country and bloc vote from the Yoruba people.’’
Okunniyi warned the abductors to release Falae without delay to prevent a possible breakdown of peace in Yorubaland because ‘’the Yoruba people may not fold their arms while one of their most respected leaders is being molested and taken as a captive in their territory.’’
Sources:
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