Chief Falae Beaten n Kidnapped On 77th Birthday

He's such a gentle man, poor man, I pray for his immediate release in good health. Chief Samuel Oluyemisi Falae, the former Finance minister was kidnapped on his seventy-seven birthday as over twenty gunmen invaded his farm in Ilado village, Akure North area of Ondo state.

He was picked at about 1pm and by 3.20pm, the abductors have demanded for N100m as ransom before the septuagenarian could be freed.

The police authourities however said it was a case of attack rather than kidnap.

Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Wole Ogodo, said in Akure that Falae was attacked yesterday morning and taken away.

He said that contrary to earlier reports, “It wasn’t a case of kidnap but an attack by Fulani herdsmen.”

The police spokesman said Falae, a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, was taken away while some of his workers were seriously wounded.

Ogodo said no fewer than 50 policemen had been deployed to the area to search for him.

However, a source in the family, who preferred anonymity, said that the kidnappers had called to ask for N100 million as ransom.

Governor Olusegun Mimiko was said to have summoned an emergency Security Council meeting on the matter.

Born on September 21, 1938, the former Finance minister, who is also national chairman, Social Democratic Party, SDP was kidnapped by over 20 Fulani herdsmen who invaded his farm, attacking his over 200 workers.

Many of his workers, including the farm manager simply identified as Bruno were matcheted while others were reportedly wounded and are on admission in different hospitals.

Reports from the family said that the herdsmen have been having issues with the workers in the farm over the grazing and destruction of the farmland by their cows.

The herdsmen reportedly came back yesterday in large numbers and attacked the farm before abducting the politician.

The herdsmen shot into the air, a situation which made the workers to flee.

They reportedly beat up Chief Falae and dragged him on the ground when he refused to go with his abductors.

Police source however said that the herdsmen may have been used by other interested party who have requested for a ransom.