13th October, 2015
Abdullahi Usman (AKA Kadiri) one of the suspects paraded as the brains behind the kidnap of Chief Olu Falae, former Secretary to the Government of the Federation by the Department of State Security Services, DSS said on Monday said the Ondo High chief was abducted because they needed funds to celebrate the last Eid-el-Kabir.
The accused gave a racy narration of how he helped to pinpoint “a big man who goes to his farm in Toyota Hilux van” who could be kidnapped to provide Sallah and wedding funds to some of his friends.
Narrating the genesis and finale of how Chief Olu Falae was abducted in his farm last month while he and another suspect Babawuro Kato were paraded by operatives of DSS at their headquarters in Abuja, Usman said he was approached by some of his friends in Kwara State shortly before the last Eid El-Kabir during a wedding ceremony.
He added that one Datijo approached him complaining that he was so broke that he might not be able to satisfactorily celebrate the coming festival unless he (Usman) was able to give information on any big man that could be abducted for money.
“I then told him that I know one man who used to bring a Hilux vehicle to his farm and I used to see him as I move my cows about”, he told reporters.
Usman added that members of the gang subsequently arranged to kidnap Chief Falae on his farm on Monday, September 21, 2015.
The suspect added that he and members of his gang then took Falae to Owo where he was kept at a place called ‘Pipeline’ around Benin junction where the man was kept. He added that a ransom of N5 million was paid to Datijo who he alleged ran away with the money.
Usman said Kato , the second suspect who was paraded with him was the one who ferried Datijo and Falae on his commercial motorcycle from the hideout to where he was eventually picked up by the Police after the payment of the ransome.
Kato however, insisted that he was not part of the gang as he was only contracted to transport the two on that night.
Abdullahi Garba who addressed the press on behalf of the DSS, the suspects were picked up in Lokoja.
He stated that the abductors were mere criminals and that their action was not motivated by any political or ethnic sentiment save for criminality.
“The service wishes to state that the abductors were mere criminals. Investigations have further revealed that their action was not targeted at Falae as a statesman and prominent Yoruba leader”.
He enjoined Nigerians to continue to live peacefully with one another and shun attempts by mischief makers to give the unfortunate incident an ethnic coloration and use same to cause disaffection among the populace.
“To this effect, the Service wishes to appeal to all Nigerians to be law abiding and responsible in their commentary on sensitive issues affecting national security.
“The Service will not hesitate to deal decisively with anybody, no matter how highly placed, in accordance with the las as long as
such a person (s) failed to be a respecter of law or peacefully coexist among the good citizens of this great country.”
He added that efforts were being made to arrest other members of the gang with a view to bringing them to justice.