Bring Falae home safely - Buhari orders the Police

President Muhammadu Buhari has directed Inspector-General of Police Solomon Arase and other security agencies to take all necessary action to ensure the safe and speedy rescue of Chief Olu Falae, who was abducted from his farm on Monday.

Olu Falae

He also condemned the “callous and reprehensible” kidnapping of the 77-year-old former Secretary to the Government of the Federation and an elder statesman.

The president called for constant updates from the police and security agencies on efforts to rescue Chief Falae. He denounced the recurring incidents of criminal abductions across the country.

Buhari, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, assured Chief Falae’s family, friends and other concerned Nigerians that the Federal Government will do all within its powers to ensure his swift release.

The president assured Nigerians that ongoing efforts to significantly enhance the security of lives and property in the country will continue apace and that under his leadership, Nigerians, irrespective of their status, will no longer be left at the mercy of criminal elements.

The Ondo State police urged the family of the elder statesman not to pay any ransom as demanded by his abductors.

The abductors slashed N10 million off the N100 million they initially demanded.

A family source said on Tuesday that they had only been able to raise N2 million.

Police Spokesman Wole Ogodo said police will not support the idea of paying ransom before the release of the elder statesmen.

Ogodo noted that  the police’s rescue team led by Commissioner of Police  Mike Ogbodu, was working hard at rescuing Falae alive.

While the rescue mission is ongoing, a 70-year-old pastor in charge of the Apostolic Church in Ilepa, Ikare-Akoko, was yesterday kidnapped along the Auga-Akunnu road in Akoko Norh East local government area of the state.

The suspected gunmen demanded N16million as ransom.

The Divisional Police Officer (DP0) in Akoko North East, Musiliu Sogbade, confirmed the abduction.

Chairman, Caretaker Committee of the local government, Alhaji Azees Umar, urged the security agents to rescue the cleric.

Also yesterday, the headship of Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) called for divine intervention in Falae’s abduction

At the Standing Committee Meeting (SCM) of the Church held at the St. David Anglican Cathedral, Ijomu, Akure chaired by the Primate of All Nigeria, Rev. Nicholas Okoh, the church expressed dismay over the development.

The SCM is made up of Archbishops from various Provinces and over 80 Bishops from across Anglican Dioceses across the country.

Chief Falae is the Chairman, Local Organising Commitee(LOC) for the Conference hosted by the Akure Diocese.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo state also warned against politicisation of the abduction of the elder statesman.

The APC said those imputing politics into the kidnap of Chief Falae should rather join hands with family, friends and the good people of Ondo state to pray for the safe release of Chief Falae.

Publicity Secretary of the party in the state, Mr. Abayomi Adesanya, said people should rather pray for the release of the elder statesman.

“We don’t even need to blame anybody for now, we should all pray for the release of Chief Falae, it is important that at this point in time for all and sundry join hands and look beyond political differences to make efforts that “Baba” is released.

“Chief Falae’s kidnap is an unfortunate situation, but using it for political discourse is bad and inhuman. Let’s pray to God to ensure his release safe and alive” the APC said.

The National Association Nigerian Students (NANS) gave kidnappers 48 hours to free Falae.

A statement signed by NANS Vice President on national affairs, Gbenga Ayenuro, condemned the abduction.

“NANS condemns in its totality and entirety the abduction of Falae.

“It is disheartening, pathetic, appalling that the elder statesman who has been contributing immensely to the advancement of the socio-political landscape of the country and a dogged fighter working assiduously for tranquility and national unity across ethnic lines in Nigeria can be abducted by evil men.

“The nation at large should join hands to prevent and counter terrorism and incessant rise in abduction cases in the country,” the statement said.

Farmers in Ondo state have also threatened to wage war against the Fulani herdsmen in the state.

The Ondo State Agricultural Commodities Association issued the threat at the Stakeholders’ Meeting on OSACA Micro-finance Bank held at the Fadama Hall, Ministry of Agriculture, Alagbaka, Akure.

The group gave a seven-day ultimatum to the government to secure the release of the elder statesman, who is an elder of the association .

“What we are saying is that the abduction of Chief Falae is unacceptable to we farmers in Ondo state and the Southwest. We therefore give a seven-day ultimatum to the federal government to secure the release of Chief Falae, if he is not released within the next seven day, the farmers in Ondo State will take action that will have a national impact.

“We should not forget the Agbekoya war in the old Oyo State.”

Former Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta Affairs, Mr Kingsley Kuku, also called for an unconditional release of Chief Falae, saying the abduction of the septuagenarian politician is “absurd and barbaric considering the age and background of the former Minister for Finance”

In a statement, he called on the relevant security agencies to expedite action towards securing Falae’s freedom.

Ondo State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in a statement, by its Director of Publicity Ayo Fadaka, expressed worry over the criminal incursion of the herdsmen into the state.

“We use this opportunity to call on the law enforcement agencies to do all in their power to apprehend and bring to justice those responsible for this indecent assault on the person and status of Chief Olu Falae.

“We also want to emphasise that, tackling these types of crimes by every state can only be possible if the much needed restructuring of our federalism is prosecuted with urgency as this will give every state the constitutional power to organise and control its own security as it obtains in other notable federalism around the world.

“The current constitution describes governors as Chief Security Officers without any security organisation directly under their controls.

“The issue of State Police is a desire that must be met at once as many challenges hitherto unknown in our clime is now in force, and the appropriate response to them is if every state can fashion how its territory is secured.

“Nigeria can no longer pretend that the security tactics and format of the 19th century will effectively address the challenges of this century. We urge those holding Chief Falae to release him forthwith and also call on the security agencies to upscale their act, locate and release Chief Falae immediately.”

Bring Falae home safely - Buhari orders the Police