Metro

It was hell in kidnappers’ den, Falae recounts

Published

9 years ago

September 25, 2015

A former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Chief Olu Falae, who regained his freedom from kidnappers on Thursday after four days in captivity, recounted his ordeal of what he went through in the hands of the criminals.
Falae, also a former minster and presidential aspirant said it was four days of “hell”, and that he slept on the bare floor for the four days that he was held captive.
He narrated his experience, when Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State paid him a visit at his Oba Ile residence.
According to him, his abductors were unreasonable in their demand. “When I told the kidnappers that my family could raise N2m for ransom against the N100m they demanded, they rejected it and told me, ‘Is it Boko Haram you are giving N2m to?’”
After being released, the septuagenarian said he trekked several kilometers from his farm to a hotel in Owo town, where he met security agents that took him home.
Looking weary and frail, Chief Falae, a traditional ruler of Ilu Abo town, arrived at his home at about 4.45pm in company of the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Solomon Arase, the Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of Zone 11, Mrs. Kalafite Adeyemi, the state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Mike Ogbodu, and other police officers from the state command and the Force headquarters, Abuja .

On how Falae was rescued, the IG said, “I cannot tell you, it is not for you. It is purely a security matter, but I am happy he is rescued alive.
“The most important thing is that baba has come home safely, that is the mandate the President has given to me and that is exactly what I have done.
“On the arrest made in connection with the crime and the amount paid as ransom, the police boss said, “I will let you know about that later, but no ransom was paid.”
Expressing his delight over the release of Falae, the state Governor Mimiko, said there was a need to tackle the issue of security in a wider dimension.
“We thank God he is back, but one is also worried that the issue of kidnapping is taking another dimension. That somebody of Falae’s pedigree was taken away while working on his farm, is a very serious security challenge and I think we must tackle it in a wider dimension.” Mimiko said.

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