The Nigerian police have denied having prior knowledge of ransom payment for the release of a former secretary to the government of the federation, Olu Falae.
The police spokesperson, Olabisi Kolawole insists that no payment was made to secure Falae’s release. She said the police had launched a search operation at the location the former SGF was kidnapped.
Contrary to police statement, Falae on Monday, September 28, said his family had paid his abductors before he was released and picked up by the police in Owo, Ondo state.
READ ALSO: Olu Falae: We Paid Ransom To The Kidnappers – Family Source
But contrary to Falae’s revelation, the police spokesperson today, September 29, reiterated the police position on the ransom for the SGF’s release.
She said, “As a law enforcement agency guided by rule of law and personal ethics, we do not under any circumstance encourage the payment of ransom to kidnappers or other criminals as it is tantamount to rewarding crime and motivating other criminals to follow that path.”
“Our intelligence and operational teams comprising intelligence response team, a special anti-kidnapping unit, conventional and mobile policemen were deployed for rescue operation,” Kolawole said.
She also said the deployed personnel followed the path from the kidnapping point – Falae’s farm at Ilado, along Igbatoro Road in Akure, Ondo state and trailed the hoodlums through bushes to Owo in Ondo state.
“In the process, we were able to identify the major actors and currently high level Police activities are being em-placed to apprehend and bring them to justice,” she said.
READ ALSO: Olu Falae Disclosed Why He Was Abducted By Fulani Herdsmen
Kolawole said the Nigeria Police under the leadership of the inspector general of police, Solomon Arase deployed unique intelligence and operational capabilities including police helicopters for aerial surveillance.
Adding that whatever the family of the rescued SGF did was without police involvement, she also said the police is set to widen its investigation with a view to exploring the lead further and to find out to how the payment was made and who received it.
She said: “If the payment was perfected through bank transaction the Police have the capacity to track such transactions and will be liaising with the bank to enable us trace the cash and apprehend the perpetrators. This could be an added lead that could strengthen ongoing post-kidnapping efforts of the Police.”
Falae was kidnapped on Monday at his farm at Ilado, along Igbatoro Road in Akure, Ondo state.
The kidnappers earlier requested a N100 million ransom be paid; the ransom was later reduced to N90 million.
Also, upon Falae’s release, the spokesperson of the Akure police command disclosed to the public that ransom was paid before Falae regained his freedom.
The post Police Deny Knowledge of Olu Falae’s Ransom appeared first on Nigeria News today & Breaking news | Read on NAIJ.COM.
Police Deny Knowledge of Olu Falae’s Ransom
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