IGP denies knowledge of ransom payment

The Inspector-General of Police has denied claims that he was aware that the family of Chief Olu Falae paid ransom before he was rescued by the police from the hands of his abductors.

Chief Olu Falae was kidnapped at his Ilado farm on 21st September, 2015 and released on 24th September, 2015. According to the IGP Solomon Arase in Abuja said that 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.

He explained that 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.

In a statement by the Force Police Public Relations Officers, ACP Olabisi Kolawole in Abuja said 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.

She further added that, “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.

ACP OLabisi reiterated the need for kidnapped person’s family to update them with such transactions so that if the payment was perfected through bank, the Police can 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 on-going post-kidnapping efforts of the Police.

In that vein, IGP Arase therefore reassured Nigerians of his determination to strengthening and enhancing the safety and security of its citizens while counting on Nigerians to continue to support and work in strong synergy with the Police towards the achievement of our statutory mandate.