Olu Falae, Abducted Former Government Minister Yet To Be Rescued; President Orders Immediate Police Intervention

by Benson Agoha | Nigeria

President Muhammadu Buhari has reportedly directed the Nigerian Police Force to rescue Chief Olu Falae who was abducted from his Farm in Akure on Monday.

* Chief Olu Falae

Chief Falae was said to have been having difficulties with his herdsmen before visiting them at his farm. He was said to have been attacked and then taken hostage together with his driver and an accompanying journalist.

Reports say his abductors were initially demanding N100 million (£330,000) from his family.  Later, they reduced it to N90million (£300,000), but they raised only N2million (£6.500), and the disagreement continued.

And according to Sahara Reporters who broke the news on twitter, The Gunmen Kidnapped the Former SGF, from his farm in Akure, Ondo State today, Monday, September 21, 2015.

* The Fulani Herdsmen

But four days after the kidnap, the former Secretary to the military government of Ibrahim Babangida from January 1986 to December 1990, and was Finance Minister for a brief period in 1990, is yet to be released.

The Police confirmed the report of the abduction, and said the had been having a running battle with the herdsmen.

Wole Ogodo, Police Public Relations Officer for Ondo State confirmed the abduction saying: “Baba Falae has been having a running battle with the herdsmen and this morning, we learnt that he visited the farm and he was allegedly attack by these herdsmen,” adding 

“But we have sent 50 of our men to the farm to begin the search for him,”

* Cut-out post from The Nation

Chief Olu Falae. his driver and a reporter from the Sahara Reporters are all said to be missing since Monday.

The Presidential to the Inspector-General of Police, Solomon Arase and other security agencies to "ensure the speedy rescue of Chief Olu Falae from his kidnappers", may produced the desired result.