Falae: Criminals now penetrate Yorubaland more than before-Akinrinade

Alani Akinrinade

Former Chief of Army Staff, Retd. Lt. Gen. Alani Akinrinade has bemoaned the spate of kidnapping in the country, saying criminals now penetrate Yorubaland more than before.

He made this observation during his visit to the Akure home of the former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, Chief Olu Falae who was abducted by hoodlums but regained his freedom recently.

According to Akinrinade, kidnapping is more pronounced in the South West now, adding, ‘the Federal Government must find a lasting solution to the menace.

He said the recent abduction of Falae was the height of insult not only on the Yoruba race in South West Nigeria, but also the nation as a whole.

“This is a big insult to the Yoruba nation. Chief Olu Falae was traumatized in the hands of these hoodlums. This is a gentle man who is making farming for a living and doing well with it,”

While describing the incident as unfortunate Akinrinade noted that the activities of the Fulani herds men are becoming worrisome to the people of the South West.

He said “the fact that the Yoruba people are hospitable in their dealings with other tribes should not be a basis for dis-respecting

According to him “the Yorubas’ in the southwest region might be forced to protect themselves if the Federal Government fails to compel the security agencies to provide adequate security.

Relating his experience in the hands of the abductors, Falae stated that his abductors were Fulani herdsmen who had been giving him a hard time for the past two or three years on his farm in Ondo State.

He said, “Because I have a dam on the farm, so they like to bring their cattle there to drink water, then they eat other people’s crops. This time they ate up my maize farm, two hectares. We took pictures, and it was videoed, the police went there.

“They were asked to pay compensation, they begged and paid half of what we claimed 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. Absolutely plausible.

“My view is that this is my home. I have not gone to farm in any other person’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, that I will protect myself. There will be self-help if government fails to protect its citizens.