Falae: OPC threatens to kidnap Hausa/Fulani? as Kidnappers reduce ransom to N70m

Abductors of the former Secretary to the Government of the Federation and current National Chairman of Social Democratic Party, SDP, Chief Olu Falae, have reduced the N100 million ransom demanded in exchange of his release to N70 million and threatened to do bodily harm to the elder statesman if his family fails to meet their request within the next couple of days.
According to dependable sources, the abductors had been negotiating with family members of the politician using his personal phones.
“They (abductors) have been speaking with the family members. Any time they want to negotiate they use the Chief’s phones. In fact, they usually forced him to say what they want from the family members and as at this morning (yesterday) they have reduced the ransom from the initial N100 million. Now they want something lower but above N50 million,” the sources said, noting that the health condition of the Chief could not be ascertained from his tone of voice.
Also, it was not certain whether the family members would budge to the demands even as concerned Nigerians across board have continued to appeal to the kidnappers to treat the octogenarian with the care and respect that he deserves.
Meanwhile, Social Democratic Party, SDP, has called on the Federal Government to take decisive action against the increasing spate of Fulani herdsmen’s criminal acts and kidnapping of high-profile personalities in Nigeria, warning that attacking the problem with kid gloves is creating room for the country to descend into anarchy.
Speaking in reaction to Monday’s kidnap of the former SGF and ex-Alliance for Democracy/ All Peoples Party presidential candidate in the February 1999 general elections, the party expressed shock that the Federal Government was yet to make a statement on the latest kidnap, stressing that silence over the incidence and dismal manner cases of Fulani herdsmen’s criminal acts are handled left much to be desired.
The party lamented the disdain with which Fulani herdsmen have destroyed farm lands, killed hapless villagers and even burnt down homes, adding that the kidnap of its National Chairman in his farm was a new dimension in the spate of criminality of the herdsmen and noted that it was high time the federal government stopped treating these criminal acts with superficial attention.
“With very deep sense of sadness, we hereby express our disappointment and worry over the unfortunate kidnap of our National Chairman, Chief Olu Falae on his farm yesterday (Monday) by some unknown gunmen.
“We are shocked that the criminal acts of these herdsmen are treated with levity by the Federal Government which up till this moment is yet to make a statement on the kidnap of its former Minister of Finance and Secretary to the Government of the Federation. This is not only shocking and embarrassing but it seems perhaps a veiled encouragement of the criminal act,” the National Secretary of the party, Dr. Abdul Ahmed Isiaq said yesterday.
Meanwhile, socio-cultural nationalist Yoruba group, Oodua People’s Congress OPC, has called for the immediate release of Chief Olu Falae, kidnapped on Monday in Akure, Ondo State, threatening that it will take any step available to defend its own.
This call was made by the founder of OPC, Dr. Frederick Fasehun who described the kidnap as an assault and insult on the Yoruba people, and challenged security operatives and agencies to produce Falae within 48 hours.
A visibly agitated Fasehun, who turned octogenarian in Lagos yesterday ordered OPC operatives to immediately launch a manhunt, combing all nooks and crannies of Ondo State and beyond, for the kidnapped politician.
Fasehun has summoned all members in the country to attend an emergency meeting on Sunday.
According to him, “OPC is not interested in crisis but it was founded primarily for the protection of its own and for building bridges in Nigeria,” he said.