We abducted Falae for sallah cash - Suspect

A suspect, Babawuro Kato, who was involved in the abduction of elder statesman, Chief Olu Falae, said he and two others carried out the kidnapping to get money for the last Sallah celebration.

He also stated that the mastermind of the kidnap did not share the N5 million ransom he received with his accomplices. 

Falae was kidnapped at his farm in Ilado village, Ondo State, on September 21, 2015 and was subsequently released after his family paid a N5million ransom.

Kato, who was paraded along with an accomplice, Abdullahi Usman (a.k.a Kadiri), by the  Department of State Services on Monday in Abuja, explained that the mastermind ran away with the ransom.

The 23-year old herdsman said the named man behind the abduction initially deceived them that the Falae family asked him to come for the ransom in Abuja, adding that the suspect fled after receiving the money, shortly before the former presidential candidate was released.

Speaking in pidgin English, Kato said, "Three of us were involved in the kidnapping and we kidnapped the man (Falae) because we were looking for money to spend during the Sallah celebration.

"But the man who collected the ransom ran away with it and did not share it with us."

The suspect, who claimed to be an indigene of Plateau State, said the gang fed their captive with loaves of bread and Coke.

The second suspect, Usman however denied involvement in the crime, saying he had been telling the DSS officials that he knew nothing about the abduction.

"I am not involved in the abduction, I have been explaining to the DSS that I don't know anything about it, but they wouldn't listen to me," he said in Hausa.

A DSS official, Abdulahi Garba, who paraded the suspects, said they were arrested on October 5, 2015 at J. Zebra Hotel along Ganaja Road, Lokoja, Kogi State.

He said, "The service wishes to state that the abductors were criminals and investigations have further revealed that their action was not targeted at Falae as a statesman and prominent Yoruba leader."

Garba said it was unfortunate that the incident was being given an ethnic colouration, and urged Nigerians to live peacefully with one another and shun "attempts by mischief-makers to give  this incident an ethnic or any other colouration and use same to cause disaffection among the populace."

He added that efforts were being intensified to bring to justice those involved in the criminal act.