Rejoinder on ransom payment by the family of Chief Olu Falae
This is a police press statement. Read below...
The
office of the Inspector-General of Police has been inundated with
enquires on claims by Chief Olu Falae and his family that a ransom was
paid to his abductors following the kidnapping incident involving him on
21st September, 2015 and eventual release on 24th September, 2015. As a
law enforcement agency guided by rule of law and professional 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.
As such,
the Police was not in any way privy to any arrangement that would have led to
payment of ransom by the elder statesman or his family. For the respected Chief
to declare that he paid a ransom for his release is therefore, a demotivating
news. Our approach was a professional response to what we saw as a crime
against a respected national personality known to embrace peace and who has
dedicated most of his valuable life to selfless service of our Nation.
The
Police under the leadership of the Inspector-General of Police deployed our
unique intelligence and operational capabilities including Police helicopters
for aerial surveillance. Our intelligence and operational teams comprising Intelligence
Response Team (a special anti-kidnapping unit), Conventional and Mobile
Policemen were deployed for rescue operation. They followed the path from the
point of kidnapping at his 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 emplaced to apprehend and bring them to justice.
As
professionals, it is our conviction that the unprecedented and massive
deployment of Police resources and men to support search and rescue operations
put pressure on the criminals to release the elder statesman. This is much so,
that history has shown that even where ransom is proven to have been paid the
life or safe return of a kidnap victim may not be guaranteed. The primary
interest of the Police in this instance and granted the circumstances of the
incident), was the safe rescue of Chief Olu Falae which was achieved.
Whatever
the family did as regards payment of ransom was outside the knowledge and
consent of the Police and at this point we wish to advice that in future
families who fall victims of such acts should rather work closely with the Police
component of the rescue initiative so that we can achieve the primary purpose
of rescuing the victim alive instead of wittingly or unwittingly giving the
impression of encouraging criminal activity by rewarding criminals with payment
of ransom.
In this instance,
having confirmed that ransom was paid to the abductors, the Police will be
interested in widening their investigative scope with a view to exploring the
lead further with regards to how payment was made and to whom such payment was
made. 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.
The
Inspector-General of Police wishes to reassure Nigerians of his determination
to strengthening and enhancing the safety and security of its citizens while
counting in Nigerians to continue to support and work in strong synergy with
the Police towards the achievement of our statutory mandate.
