AKURE, Federal Republic of Nigeria. FORMER Secretary to the Government of the Federation ( SGF), Chief Olu Falae, who was released last week Thursday by his abductors has narrated his ordeal in the hands of the hoodlums, desribing his experience as horrible.
Falae stated this when the the Former Chief of Defence Staff, General Alani Akinrinade visited him in his hometown, Akure, on Monday.
He said: “It is an insult to our race that a man like me could be abducted by a bunch of hoodlums. One of them even told me that after leaving them, if I go out and say nonsense, they will come back to kidnap me again.
“Of course, six of them, with about three or four guns, every half an hour or so, would say ‘Baba, we are going to kill you, if you don’t give us money.
“And on Wednesday, one of them came and said ‘look, we are going to leave here on Thursday morning and since we can’t leave you here alone, if we don’t get what we want, we will kill you’. “They said they gave me until 3.00 p.m. and if they didn’t get the money, they would execute me.
“I thank God that at about 21 minutes to 3.00 p.m, one of them came and said ‘the money don complete.’ On the following morning, they said I should go and one of them took ropes to stitched my buba, which was already tattered, so it would at least stay on me and I wouldn’t look like a lunatic, when I was out of the place.”
Falae said he was able to find a motorcycle when he came out of the bush to give him a ride to Owo town, which is about 30 kilometres away from Akure, where he was forcibly kidnapped for four days.
“The place is about 10 kilometres from Owo town, between Owo and Ifon, and I walked most of the distance from my farm to that place. Miraculously, I was not tired, I was not hungry and I was not afraid of them at all,” Falae said.
Speaking during the visit, Akinrinade described the abduction of Chief Falae by suspected Fulani herdsmen as a national disgrace and an insult on the entire Yoruba nation.
He expressed worry over the rate of kidnappings in Yorubaland and called on the Federal Government to find a lasting solution to the incessant activities of kidnappers across the country.
He noted that kidnapping business thrived in the South-West these days, saying criminals had penetrated the Yorubaland, describing Falae’s abduction as unfortunate.
He, however, said the South-West region might be forced to protect themselves if the Federal Government failed to compel the security agencies to provide adequate security.
Meanwhile, youths from the Akure Division, on Monday, took to the streets, demanding that activities of Fulani cattle rearers in the capital city should be curtailed.
The youth, under the auspices of Akure Youth Coalition (AYC), a national and socio-political movement of Akure speaking people in four local government areas in the state, which include Akure South, Akure North, Ifedore and Idanre, converged at the townhall and marched to the Deji’s palace to register their displeasure over the activities of Fulani cattle rearers in the area.
The youth also moved to the state House of Assembly, carrying placards with various inscriptions, such as “Nomadic grazing must stop,” “Olu Falae is an elder statesman; respect our elders!” “Stop Nomadic herding now, give us a cattle ranch in the state for cattle rearers,” “Do not turn Akure into a tearful fiefdom, respect our land.”
Speaking during the peaceful protest, president of the coalition, Mr Adekanbi Oluwatuyi, said the protest became imperative in order to register their displeasure over the activities of the Fulani herdsmen in the communities, saying it had been affecting the communities adversely.
Oluwatuyi said as peace-loving youths of Akure kingdom, it was pertinent for them to express their dissatisfaction over the threats and acrimony perpetuated by Fulani herdsmen in the capital city and its environs.
He said: “They (herdsmen) had continued to harass and intimidate our people on their farmlands with their cattle forcibly entering into farmlands and they descend on anyone who dares challenge or query their actions.
“We are mindful of the fact that any Nigerian is guaranteed freedom to live in any part of the country as enshrined in Section 41 (1) of the 1999 Constitution as amended.
“We are, however, quick to state that this does not confer on them the right to intimidate and violate the right of their host communities.”
The Deji of Akure, Oba Aladetoyinbo Aladelusi, lauded the youth for the peaceful protest and assured them that all relevant authorities would be contacted, while traditional institutions and stakeholders would meet to deliberate on a lasting solution to the problem.
The monarch, however, commended President Muhammadu Buhari and other security agencies for ensuring the release of Falae.
In a related development, contrary to claims by the Inspector-General of Police, Solomon Arase, last week Thursday, that no ransom was paid to secure the freedom of the former Secretary to Government of the Federation (SGF), Chief Olu Falae, a family member, on Monday, said an undisclosed amount of money was paid before the septuagenarian was released last week Thursday morning.
According to a family source, who spoke with Nigerian Tribune on condition of anonymity, the police had no input in the release of their breadwinner, saying the old man was released after the abductors confirmed that the ransom had been dropped at an agreed place.
He specifically said the ransom was not paid directly by the family, but hailed the state government intervention in saving the former SGF on time, after sensing that the Fulani herdsmen who held Falae captive would not yield to their plea.
He, however, could not state the amount paid for the release of the Olu of Ilu Aboo, where Falae is regarded as the traditional head, but confirmed that ransom worth millions of naira was paid.
He added that he would not know where the ransom was taken to, but said Falae was brought out from the forest where they had been keeping him to Owo junction in the early hours of Thursday.
According to him, the police only got wind of his release after Chief Falae introduced himself to some policemen on patrol, who subsequently took him to a nearby hotel to freshen up, as the old man looked dirty and weary.
Credit: Tribune (Nigeria)
