It was also gathered that some of the workers of Falae on the farm who tried to rescue him were also attacked and injured by the abductors, who were angered by their attempt to rescue the elderly man from them. Efforts by our correspondent to speak to his wife or any other member of his family remained unsuccessful as at the time of filing this report. But a source who did not want his name in print said the kidnappers had called Falae’s wife demanding N100million, which they said must be paid between yesterday and today, in order to secure his release. According to him, the Fulani herdsmen and the septuagenarian politician had been having a dispute over the destruction of his farm produce by their cows. He further disclosed that Falae had previously invited the police to intervene in the matter and some of the herdsmen had been arrested and released on bail. He explained that the herdsmen, who came heavily armed, stormed the farm located at Ilado and attacked the manager of the farm, who he identified as Bruno and asked him to lead them to where Falae was. The farm manager, according to the source, led them to Falae, who was beaten before he was taken away to an as yet unknown destination. The public relations officer of the State Police Command, DSP Wole Ogodo, when contacted said it had not been established that the politician was kidnapped, but confirmed that some Fulani herdsmen had invaded the farm and attacked Falae and his workers. “We cannot say it is a case of kidnapping yet, because the information I have said some Fulani herdsmen invaded the farm, beat up everybody on the farm, including Chief Falae. Some of the workers were even wounded by the attackers,” he said. The PPRO further disclosed that the command had deployed over 50 of its men, led by the deputy commissioner of police in charge of operations, Ishola Adbullahi, to secure Falae’s release, adding that those wounded had been taken to an undisclosed hospital for treatment. “This is not the first time the Fulani herdsmen would attack the farm, they had come before and some of them were arrested. So, they came today (yesterday) again. I don’t think it is a case of kidnapping; until the team that went there comes back before we can establish whether it is a kidnapping case or not,” he explained. While reacting to the incident, the state government, through the commissioner for information, Mr Kayode Akinmade, condemned the act, saying it was unfortunate and sad that such an eminent elder statesman like Chief Olu Falae could be abducted. Akinmade said that the state governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko had convened an emergency security meeting to fashion out a way to secure the release of the Afenifere chieftain. According to him, the act showed the level of decadence in the country and was indication that nobody was safe. He promised that the government would do everything possible to unravel the matter and ensure Falae’s safety. When contacted, the secretary-general of the pan-Yoruba socio-cultural group, Afenifere, Chief Sehinde Arogbofa described the incident as embarrassing. “In fact I don’t know what to say, but this is embarrassing,” Arogbofa said. Also, the Asamo of Akure, High Chief Rotimi Olusanya, who is the spokesperson for the Akure Kingdom said, “We are surprised. I don’t really know what the old man has done. He does not have money. He is an old man. By the time we heard the news, we were shocked. “The Deji has made efforts to contact the state government. We appeal to the security agencies to do something about it. I am hearing that Chief Falae has issues with the Fulani herdsmen for the first time. Anyway, we’ve not received full details of the kidnapping. But if that is the case, it is just unfortunate. But I would like to appeal to the government to do something about it. But for some time now, the people of Akure have not had any problem with the Fulani herdsmen. I think we must have something to do about it,” Chief Olusanya said.
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