Twenty-four hours after Chief Olu Falae was abducted from his farm in Ilado in Akure North Local Government Area of Ondo State, Commissioner of Police, Mr. Mike Ogbodu has promised to return him alive to his family.
He also disclosed that Police are already working with other security agencies in the state to ensure Falae’s rescue.
Fulani herdsmen were linked with Falae’s abduction, just as the kidnappers have reportedly reduced the ransom placed on him from N100 million to N90 million.
Falae was reportedly abducted on his farm on Monday, September 22, by hoodlums suspected to be Fulani herdsmen.
His personal assistant, Moshood Raji, who spoke on behalf of the family yesterday alleged that the herdsmen were behind the kidnap of his principal, adding that there had been incessant face off between the herdsmen and the Afenifere chieftain over the frequent invasion of his farm by cattle.
Raji explained how the “Fulani herdsmen always brought their cattle and often invaded the farm. This has caused a lot of problem between them and Chief Falae. Some weeks ago, we arrested some of them and they were detained at the state Police Command headquarters. It got to a time that the Secretary of Fulani community told Chief to erect fence around his big farm so that his men would not be entering it with their cattle. He also threatened that his men will deal with Chief if anything happens to any of them.”
Some of the sympathizers who besieged the residence of Falae include members of the State House of Assembly led by Speaker Jumoke Akindele and Akure traditional Chiefs led by the Lisa of Akure, Chief James Olusoga.
Others were members of the SDP, a political party founded by Falae, Akure indigenes and members of the Anglican Communion who held series of prayers for the safety of the Politician.
