Reports emerged on Monday, September 20, 2015 that a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation SGF, Olu Falae was abducted from his residence in Akure North Area of Ondo State.
According to Vanguard, Falae was kidnapped by Fulani herdsmen numbering over 20 who invaded his farm in Ilado Village on his 77th birthday and attacked his over 200 workers.
According to the report, many of his workers, including the manager of the farm, whose name was given simply as Bruno were macheted by the marauding herdsmen while other are currently receiving treatment for various degrees of injuries in hospitals.
It was gathered that the herdsmen have been at loggerheads with the farm workers over the grazing and the destruction of the farmland by their cows, which prompted the attack and eventual kidnap of the Afenifere Chieftain and national chairman of the Social Democratic Party (SDP).
After shooting in the air to scare away the workers, the herdsmen reportedly beat up Falae, dragging him on the floor when he refused to go with them.
A police source however said that the herdsmen may have been working on the orders of another interested party who have requested a N100 million ransom for the former presidential aspirant.
Speaking with journalists, the Spokesperson for the SDP in Ondo State Remi Olayiwola availed that the abductors have contacted the wife of the victim Mrs Rachel Falae and requested for N100m ransom which they demanded to be paid before the end of Tuesday, September 22, 2015.
Olayiwola also stated that those who contacted Mrs. Falae had a Fulani accent.
The police in the state have confirmed that the attack was carried out by Fulani herdsmen, with the Spokesman for the state command, Wole Ogodo, adding that at least 50 policemen had been deployed to the area to search for him.
Ogodo also said the police search party, led by Deputy Commissioner of Police, operation Ishola Abdulahi would need to ascertain Falae’s whereabouts before the police would conclude that he had been kidnapped.
