The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Solomon Arase, has maintained that its operation put pressure on kidnappers of the former Secretary General of the Federation, Chief Olu Falae and also led to his rescue.
The Nigeria Police Force, yesterday, in a rejoinder captioned, “Re: Ransom Payment By The Family Of Chief Olu Falae,” also queried the payment of ransom to kidnappers by Falae’s family.
The Force, which claimed that it was not privy to the payment of the ransom noted that it does not encourage the payment of ransom to kidnappers or other criminals.
In a rejoinder issued in Abuja yesterday, the police noted that it would be interested in widening its investigative scope with a view to exploring the lead further in regard to how payment was made and to whom such payment was made. The police, in its investigations, also want to know if the payment was perfected through bank transactions.
“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.
“The police under the leadership of the IGP, deployed our unique intelligence and operational capabilities including police helicopters for aerial surveillance.
“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 or Chief Olu Falae, which was achieved.”
The rejoinder went on to say 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.
“In this instance, having confirmed that ransom was paid to the abductors, the police will be interested in widening their investigative scope with a view to exploring the lead further to regard to how payment was made and to whom such payment was made.
“If the payment was perfected through bank transactions, the police have the capacity to track such transaction and will be liasing with the bank to enable us track the cash and apprehend the perpetrators. This could be an added lead that could strengthen ongoing post kidnapping efforts of the police”.
Arase, however, reassured Nigerians of his determination to strengthen and enhance the safety and security of its citizens.