Police Shouldn’t Take Glory ForFalae’s Release, We Paid Ransom –Family Source
impression created by the police that
the former minister of finance and
chieftain of Afenifere, Chief Olu Falae
was released by his abductors without
paying ransom.
A family member of the elder statesman
said contrary to the claim by the police
authorities, ransom was paid before
Chief Falae was eventually released
The family source also berated the
Inspector-General of Police, Mr Solomon
Arase of claiming the glory for Falae’s
release saying the police boss just came
to Ondo for jamboree “because Police
did not have any input in Baba’s
release.”
The former Secretary to the Government
of the Federation and national chair
man of the Social Democratic Party
(SDP) was kidnapped in his farm at Ilado
in Akure North Local Government Area
by suspected Fulani herdsmen. He
regained his freedom after spending four
days in the kidnappers’ den
“I wonder why people don’t investigate
well before talking. It will be very
unfair to give any kudos to the police
over Chief Falae’s release having being
held hostage for four days.
“If we relied on Police to rescue Baba
and ignored his abductors on the ran
som they demanded by now we would
have been telling another story. But we
thank God our Baba came back alive.”
The source did not disclose the actual
amount paid but said the family had to
appeal to the hoodlums to spare Falae’s
life saying the kidnappers threatened
seriously.
“So, in this kind of development, we
should wait and be listening to the po
lice? My brother, forget. As far as I
know, the police didn’t play any role in
his release. The family played ball with
the abductors, and they took him back
to his farm where he was kidnapped
and dropped him there. “Baba even said
it when he got home that after the
abductors had concluded their
arrangements with his family, they took
him back to his farm at Ilado and
dropped him there.
“Baba said when his abductors dropped
him, he trekked several kilometers from
his farm to a hotel in owo where he met
some policemen and introduced himself
as Chief Olu Falae. That was how the
Police got to know of his release and
hijacked the whole process as if they are
the one who rescued him. Only an
unreasonable person will still give
kudos to the police for the Chief’s
release. We know who and who we
should thank, not the police,” the
furious family source said.
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