The Nigerian Police Force is an embarrassment

The police regularly embarrass us with their penchant for bribery and corruption and their harassment of innocent citizens among other things. However, the recent handling of Olu Falae’s abduction and release has taken this embarrassment to new highs.

Falae, a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) was abducted on Monday, September 21, 2015, from his farm in Ondo State.

On Wednesday, September 23, President Muhammadu Buhari ordered the police to rescue Falae and get him home safe and sound.

On Thursday, 24, the former SGF was freed by his abductors, but instead of painting a true scenario of events, the police lied through their teeth and claimed that they had rescued him and that no ransom was paid to secure his release.

The lying was spearheaded by Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase, who, when asked by journalists where Falae was rescued, said it was a security matter and not meant for public consumption.

“President Muhammadu Buhari gave me a mandate and that is what I have done exactly, rescuing Baba Falae and bringing him back home safe and sound,” Arase said.

The next liar in line was the Force Public Relations Officer, Olabisi Kolawole who issued a statement on Falae’s “rescue.”

“The rescue of Chief Olu Falae from his captives on September 24th, 2015 was made possible as the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Solomon E. Arase, fdc NPM coordinated both aerial and land operations to ensure the freedom of the former presidential candidate of the SDP,” Kolawole wrote.

“The operation which started in the early hours of the aforementioned date, combed every nook and cranny of Ondo state till success was achieved in Owo,” she added.

The deal was sealed by the Ondo Police Public Relations Officer, Wole Ogodo, who also said that no ransom was paid to Falae’s abductors.

There were obvious holes in the story as the police did not arrest any suspect despite “rescuing” Falae from a gang of kidnappers.

But Nigerians, trusting as we always are, believed the best of our police and took their word for it.

Unfortunately, they embarrassed us yet again. How could the police believe that the truth of this matter wouldn’t eventually come out?

An anonymous family member initially revealed to the Daily Sun that a ransom had been paid to the former SGF’s kidnappers contrary to the police reports.

“…As far as I know, the police didn’t play any role in his release. The family played ball with the abductors, and they took him back to his farm where he was kidnapped and dropped him there,” the family source said.

Falae himself confirmed the report on Monday, September 28, while speaking to journalists.

“There were six of them with three or four guns and every half an hour or so, they will say, ‘Baba we are going to kill you if you don’t give us money. We are going to kill you’,” Falae said.

“On Wednesday, one of them came and said, ‘look we are going to leave here on Thursday morning. Since we cannot leave you here alone, if we don’t get what we want, we are going to kill you.’ And they said they gave me until 3pm and if at 3pm they don’t get the money that they would execute me. I thank God that at 21 minutes to 3pm, one of them came and said, ‘the money don complete,” he added.

Through their lies, the police have made a mockery of themselves and Nigerians as a whole and also made light of Falae’s traumatizing ordeal.

READ: Police lied, we paid ransom for Falae's release - Family member

Their next course of action should be a public apology to the Falae family and a refund of the ransom money.

READ: Falae confirms payment of ransom for his release

The police should also apologize to Nigerians for the insult occasioned by their falsehoods and focus on actually securing the lives and properties of citizens instead of wasting precious time conjuring tall tales in attempts to repair a virtually non-existent reputation.