Falae Abduction: Fulani Group Asks Afenifere To Withdraw Ultimatum

The Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria has asked the Yoruba Socio-Cultural group, Afenifere, to withdraw the two weeks ultimatum issued to Fulani herdsmen living in the South-west over the recent kidnap of Chief Olu Falae by alleged Fulani herdsmen.

Addressing a news conference on Monday in Abuja, the National Secretary of the Association, Mr Baba Ngelzarma, condemned the recent abduction of the former Secretary to the Government of the Federation.

Mr Ngelzarma admitted that the kidnap of Falae was a criminal offence that must not be allowed to go unpunished by security agencies but noted that it was unfair to brand all Fulani herdsmen as criminals.

The group added that their members were also suffering from the activities of kidnappers who collect ransom from the herdsmen in addition to carting away their cattle.

The former SGF was kidnapped from his farm in Ondo State on Monday, September 21 with his abductors demanding for a cash sum of 100 million naira, later reduced to 90 million naira, as ransom.

President Muhammadu Buhari consequently directed the IGP and other security agencies to take all necessary action to ensure the safe and speedy rescue of the former SGF.

Chief Olu Falae, who is also a former presidential candidate, was released by his captors on Thursday, September 24.

Two weeks after his release, five of the eight abductors of the elder statesman were nabbed in Niger, Ekiti and Ondo states by the Special Intelligence Team deployed by the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr Solomon Arase.