FEATURE ARTICLE

Temple Chima UbochiThursday, October 1, 2015
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Bonn, Germany

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THE KIDNAPPING AND RELEASE OF CHIEF OLU FALAE:
THE INSPECTOR GENERAL OF POLICE LIED; SHOWING WHY THE FORCE HE LEADS IS IN SUCH A ROT

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A harmful truth is better than a useful lie (Thomas Mann)

False words are not only evil in themselves, but they infect the soul with evil (Plato)

Lies don't fix things. They don't even make things easier, at least not in the long run. Best to tell the truth and then clean up an honest mess (P.C. + Kristin Cast)

My father always told me that what's wrong with lying is that it's an admission of weakness. If you're the strongest, you can afford to tell the truth (K.J. Parker)

he Nigeria Police Force is one of the most corrupt institutions in Nigeria; and if Buhari is serious about the war against corruption, he should know that the Police Force should be reformed, otherwise, whatever gain that might be made in the war against corruption, would be sabotaged or lost through the attitude of the men and women of the force. Part of the efforts to make Nigeria a crime free society would involve weeding the force of miscreants it has in its payroll. The Nigeria Police Force, as a colonial creation, used by the colonial masters to subjugate, manipulate, and, exploit the people of Nigeria, has retained that mental 55 years after the granting of independence by the colonizers. To make the police a people oriented outfit, President Buhari needs to implement the report of the national conference that would turn the Police Force into regional forces for the realization of their role as the defenders of the people.

Who is surprised that Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State has dropped a bombshell by saying that the Yoruba area was more protected by members of the Oodua Peoples` Congress (OPC) than the Police? Speaking at the 80th birthday celebration of OPC founder, Dr Frederick Fasehun, in Lagos recently, Mimiko said "You founded OPC, today, I tell you in Yoruba land that many Yoruba people will feel secure with OPC guarding their streets than the conventional police". That comment said it all and was a "vote of no confidence" on the Nigeria Police Force. Who can accuse the governor of coming hard on the Police Force, when even the Inspector General of Police is a liar? Imagine the IGP, Solomon Arase, deceiving Nigerians by saying that Chief Olu Falae, who was abducted few days ago, was rescued by his Police Force through aerial and ground operations. Nigerians believed those lies, until Chief Olu Falae put the record straight. The Police told us that it rescued Chief Falae, on Thursday, September 24, in Owo, Ondo State, through aerial and land operations, which were coordinated by the Inspector-General of Police, Solomon Arase. And that no ransom was paid for the release. But on Monday, September 28, the former Secretary to Government of the Federation, Olu Falae, contradicted the Inspector General of Police, when he said that his family paid ransom to his abductors before he was freed (N5 million was paid as ransom before Falae was released). Chief Falae even told us that the police had no hands in his release, as he was only freed after his kidnappers received payment of the ransom. Chief Falae added that he trekked for about 15 kilometers before he was picked up by the police in Owo, several kilometers from Akure, the Ondo State capital. So, the Police only met him after his release, on his way home. What the Police did was to escort him back home. Chief Falae also narrated his ordeal, in the hands of the kidnappers, and how he slept on the floor for four days. We learnt that Falae was kidnapped in his farm by Fulani herdsmen, who have been fond of destroying people's crops with their livestock, and when challenged, will even kill the owners of the farms. There are stories all over Nigeria about how the Fulani cattle rearers have been above the law, doing anything they like, killing whenever they deemed fit, and getting away with all these. Instead of the Nigeria Police to rein in the excesses of these Fulani herdsmen, it goes about spewing out lies, and claiming what it didn't do. If the Inspector General of the Police can be lying to Nigeria, think of what his officers and men/women are doing.

After Chief Falae regained his freedom, the Police shamelessly put out a statement, through its spokesperson, Olabisi Kolawole, claiming that the operations to rescue Chief Falae started in the early hours of the Thursday, Septemebr 24, and did involve combing of "every nook and cranny of Ondo State till success was achieved in Owo." The most vexing part of it was how IGP Solomon Arase became boastful, after the release of Chief Falae, when he and his force had no hands in securing Falae's freedom. We read that in a statement in Owo, while re-uniting Chief Falae with his family, the Inspector of Police said the police would not let up till the perpetrators of the dastardly act were brought to book. He warned criminals to have a rethink, stressing that the police and other security agencies would deal decisively with miscreants and law-breakers. Hear him: "Those who think Nigeria is lawless should have a rethink as the Nigeria Police Force and other sister agencies are everywhere to deal decisively with those miscreants who intend to test the capabilities of the Force." It was lying all the way, when the Inspector General told Nigerians the Chief Falae "was in good health in spite of his four-day ordeal in the hands of his abductors". He made this statement after he accompanied Falae home: "The important thing now is that Baba Falae is back home safe and sound according to the mandate given to me by the President". Arase said that no ransom was paid and that nobody has been arrested. The IGP refused to say where the victim was rescued; when the question was put to him, he (the IGP) only claimed that such question "was a security matter and not meant for public consumption".

The Inspector General lied and lied and lied. While he said that Chief Falae was in good health after his ordeal, we learned his health has failed, as he had no access to good foods, drinks and drugs, which people of his age need, during his period of captivity. There's even a plan to fly the Chief abroad for medicals. Chief Falae said, after his release, that he refused to eat the foods offered to him by his abductors, and, that he was helpless throughout the period of his captivity. In addition, we learned that the Chief slept on bare floor with his shoes removed all through the period that he was held hostage. The question becomes: What will the Inspector General of Police gain by these lies? No wonder, they say that a fish rots from the head down. When the head of the NPF is shameless and queer, do we have any reason again to ask why the NPF is rotten and stinks to the high heaven? The Police Force that was supposed to defend the people, kills many innocent people and covers it up through lies, by claiming that they, the innocent victims, were criminals, since those people will not be able to defend themselves again (a dead person can't talk again). Some police men kill innocent citizens because of a bottle of beer or N20. The police is fond of asking for bribe before looking into criminal cases, and in most cases, the innocent becomes the victim, as justice is always perverted. Some police men/women disgrace themselves; fighting dirty in public glare over insignificant things, while the citizens would be watching and cheering, and when asked the reason for the quarrel, it might be a plate of food or a bottle of beer. The police men set illegal checkpoint just to extort money from the motorists, and such illegal activities end up frustrating the motorists, as they go through the suffering, delays, parting with their money, and, some even lose their lives. The police would always find fault in order to extort money from a motorist, even asking for irrelevant documents, just to have a reason to ask for money from the motorists. Instead of harassing innocent citizens it was supposed to protect, the police should know that its obligation or responsibility is to protect the citizens and prevent criminal activities. But, The NPF personnel would run away when they hear the sound of gun or when confronted by armed robbers or kidnappers, but, when it comes to innocent civilians, they (Police men/women) maltreat them, and even shoot some of them to death for just no reason other than the claim of "provocation". The police personnel carry guns, but will not use it on the criminals, but, turn them on the innocent people they are supposed to protect. The rates of accidental discharge or extra-judicial killings by policemen have gotten out of hand.

What Nigerian people go through, as far as security is concern, is double jeopardy, in that armed robbers, kidnappers etc have been tormenting them, and still, the police, paid to protect them, also adds to their woes, even many Nigerians fear the police personnel more than the armed robbers and kidnappers. Many police personnel are just thieves in uniform! When the police takes somebody to their station, the experience might be worse than going to hell: Not only that the place is filthy (better meant for a pig), the suspect might also be manhandled, and anything can happen there, because of the brutality in those places; people are arrested, detained unlawfully, and in some case, a suspect might be killed, and the police will lie about it, and that will be the end of the case. It's unfortunate that in saner climes, the police is people-friendly, and is always ready to help and protect the citizens, but, in Nigeria, the reverse is always the case; people in Nigeria run when they see the police. Tunde Ajaja wrote that "While policemen are paid from taxpayers' money to protect their lives and properties, findings showed that some of these men have swapped this national assignment with something else, geared towards putting citizens under pressure, intimidation and fear. In some other climes, the appearance of a policeman or the patrol vehicle gives comfort and a sense of cover to residents, but in Nigeria, especially in recent times, some people have said that sighting policemen unsettles them and puts them under fear of imminent brutality or attack. It is either they drive you off the road with their rickety vehicles and sirens, or they extort, harass and intimidate you, or they take you to their station and come up with false allegations, not to even talk of the scourge of accidental discharge. Even though the IGP, Mr. Solomon Arase, has banned checkpoints on roads, the policemen seem to have converted the stop and search strategy to a money-making venture and a golden opportunity to harass people".

With the character of the Inspector General of Police, no one would wonder why the NPF is a den of criminals and liars. What the IGP did in this Chief Falae's case is condemnable; he should be reprimanded. When we are condemning Senator Bukola Saraki, the senate president, for falsely declaring his assets, assuming the allegations are true, we should also condemn the Inspector General of Police for peddling falsehood, afterall, a lie is a lie, no matter from whose mouth it's "falling" out.

As I was about to post this article, news came that the Inspector General of Police has changed 180 degrees to say that the police are not aware that ransom was paid to kidnappers to secure the release of Chief Olu Falae. A statement from the Office of the IGP on Tuesday, September 29, said the police never had idea that money was paid as ransom for Falae's release. The IGP continued his lying spree by saying "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 of Chief Olu Falae which was achieved". And the IGP concluded that whatever the family did as regards payment of ransom was outside the knowledge and consent of the police, advising that in the future, families who fell victims of such acts should rather work closely with the police component of the rescue initiative so that the primary purpose could be achieved in rescuing the victims. First of all, The IGP claiming that the police didn't know about the ransom paid, means that the police didn't take part in any rescue operation, and Chief Olu Falae said that the police met him on his way home, so, one wonders the rescue operation the IGP was talking about. What stopped the IGP from inquiring from the Falae family if money changed hands before the Chief was release, before putting out any statement to the effect that no ransom was paid? How can anybody take the police advice not to pay ransom, if he or she becomes a victim of a kidnapping for ransom, but to rely on the police for rescue, when many of the armed robbers and kidnappers are police personnel or when the police personnel are accomplices to those crimes? Only a person who didn't value his or her life will rely on the police. If by providence, the police rescues a kidnapped victim, that will be good, but, it seldom happens. How can the police, that has failed to solve the murder cases involving some prominent Nigerians, be relied upon by the ordinary citizens? The defense put up by the IGP to cover up or justify his lies and blunder, in this Falae's case, wouldn't fly with many Nigerians. He was caught with his pants down here. Solomon Arase should stop lying and should do more to rein in police excesses.

That brings me to the behaviour of the Fulani cattle rearers: These people graze their livestock on other people's land, causing economic damages, and when confronted, they become aggressive, and might then kill or maim the owners of the farmlands. The problem is that nothing happens to them. Jos has been flowing with blood, because of the activities of the Fulani cattle rearers, who attack and kill some indigenes of that town, because, they, the indigenes, asked for what that belongs to them. The story is the same in Enugu, Owerri, Umuahia, Makurdi, Ijebu Ode, Ore etc (all over Nigeria). The Fulani cattle rearers did invade Chief Falae's farm and abducted him. Falae said it was likely his ordeal was closely connected to his conflict with Fulani herdsmen, who consistently grazed on his farm. His words: "The cattle rearers have been giving me a hard time for the past two or three years. Because I have a dam on the farm, so they like to bring their cattle there to drink water, then they eat my crops. This time they ate up my maize farm. We took pictures, and it was videoed, the police went there. They were asked to pay compensation, they begged and paid half and we accepted it. That was about two months ago. Whether it was one of them who went to bring his brothers to come and deal 'with this wicked man', I don't know. It is plausible. My view is that this is my home. I have not gone to farm on anyone's territory. This is my home where I was born. I have every right to farm here and live in peace here. So, this is totally unacceptable. I once told the commissioner of police that if he cannot protect us and protect my farm, then I will protect myself. There will be self-help, if government fails to protect its citizens. It would have been unfortunate if that were to happen. The IG met me and assured me that they will give us protection. I hope that we in Ondo State and in Yoruba land would consult to ensure that we enhance our protection. We cannot be slaves in our own territory." He, Chief Olu Falae, did warn that such attack should not be allowed to happen again as it could result to even graver consequences. In his words: It is not because of me. As for me, I am a very humble person, but by virtue of what God has made me and the status He has given me, it is an insult to our race that a man like me could be abducted by a bunch of hoodlums. By the way, one of them told me 'Baba, if after you leave us you talk nonsense I will come and catch you again'. That is the kind of insult I received."

To know why these trouble makers and marauders are above the law, you need to know what Buhari did in 2000, and be the judge:

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2012/11/day-lam-adesina-clashed-with-buhari-marwa-others/

TIT BITS

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6sKeV9VvoYg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TPAaWPcKoYI

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SvPZo52X5vo

THE THANX IS ALL YOURS!!!

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