•Suspects confess, reveal: ‘We abducted him to raise money for Sallah’
From Romanus Ugwu, Abuja
Babawuro (other names witheld), one of the suspects who kidnapped elder statesman and former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), has lamented that he did not get a dime from the N5million ransom paid to the kidnappers, as one of them Dojijo bolted away with the money,
He also disclosed that the plan to kidnap the former finance minister was hatched at a marriage ceremony with the aim of raising money to celebrate Salah.
Babawuro and another suspect, Abdullahi (other names witheld) were paraded in Abuja by the Department of Security Services (DSS).
The 26-year-old Fulani nomad, admitted that apart from being the one who informed them about sitting Falae’s Hilux vehicle each time he took food to his uncle’s labourers, he equally bought food for the kidnappers and Falae on two instances: “We were about three at the initial stage of the planning. We met at Umana, Kwara State, during a marriage ceremony. On my way back, I had seen this my friend, Abdullahi, who asked me how we could raise money for Salah.
“I told him about one person who has knowledge of kidnapping for ransom we call Dojijo, but I have never met him one on one. I told him I know one man in the farm who has a Hilux vehicle he usually brings to farm.
“He asked me how I knew him and I told him that though I have never set my eyes on him, I usually see him each time my uncle sends me to the labourers working for him. He told me that they would invite me anytime they were ready for the operation. That was all I know about the kidnap.
“However, about four days later, they invited me to buy food for them. I told them that I did not have money with me but I would come. I traced the route with my motorcycle. I met about two of them in the bush including Abdullahi.
“They gave me N2,500 to buy food for them. They asked Baba what he wanted to eat and he told them soft drink with bread. It was among the things I bought for them. Some days later, they called me to buy food again, but after that day, I would call them but their numbers were not going.
“Few days later, they called me that they had brought the money paid in Abuja, but they also told me that one of them bolted away with the money. They promised to see me when they come to Owo. When we met, they confirmed that they could not see him again after collecting the money.
“When the money could not come, I had to sell one of my cows to celebrate Salah. I dropped N20,000 for my mum and left with N40,000 to Millennium Park in Abuja to enjoy myself. I still saw Abduallahi there and asked if they had seen but he told me they have not seen him.”
Speaking earlier, DSS new spokesperson, Abdullahi Garba, dismissed the insinuation linking ethnic connotation to the kidnapping, urging: “Nigerians to live in peace with one another and shun attempts by mischief makers to give this unfortunate incident an ethnic or any other coloration to cause disaffection among the populace.
“To this effect, this Service wishes to appeal to all Nigerians to be law abiding and responsible in their commentary on sensitive issues affecting national security. The Service will not hesitate to deal decisively with anybody, no matter how highly placed, in accordance with the law as long as such a person(s) failed to be a respecter of the law or peacefully coexist among the good citizens of this great nation.”