The Police on Sunday paraded Nigeria’s most wanted kidnap kingpin, Chukwudi Dumeme Onuamadike, popularly known as Evans alongside six of his commanders in Abuja on Sunday.
According to the Police, Evans, a native of Nnewi in Nnewi North Local Government Area of Anambra State is the vicious leader of a highly organized kidnap for ransom syndicate and criminal gang terrorizing and responsible for several kidnap of notable/prominent Nigerians in Lagos State, including the Western, Eastern, South-South and some Northern States. He has his gangs active and spread across these mentioned states.
The Police said during interrogation and preliminary investigation, Evans and his Gangs confessed to all the kidnappings linked to them and make confessional statements to the various roles they played in the commission of the crimes.
Arms and ammunitions recovered for the gang include one AK-49 rifle, five AK 47 rifles, two double barrel long guns, two English Pistols, 59 AK-47 magazines with ammunition and 1, 272 live ammunition of AK-47.
Five different plate numbers were also recovered from the suspects. The Police said other weapons owned by the gang are being recovered from their different hideouts across the country.
The other suspects arrested alongside Evans include Nwosu Chukwuka, aka Sudo who the Police said is the second in command of the kidnap syndicate, Suoyo Paul, Felix Chinemerem, Ikenna Emeka, Uchechukwu Amadi and Ogechi Amadi.
While parading the suspects, Moshood Jimoh, spokesperson for the Police said the kidnap kingpin was arrested on Saturday by Joint Special Forces of the Nigerian Police after an intense gun battle between that lasted several hours at Magodo Estate, in Ikeja Area of Lagos.
The Police recalled that Evans was first declared wanted in August, 2013 when he masterminded the attempted kidnap of Chief Vincent Obianudo, the owner of Young Shall Grow Motors in Festac, Lagos, where a Policeman attached to the victim foiled the attack and killed three ‘3’ of Evans gang members but also lost his life in the process.
The Police also noted that though some of Evans gang members were subsequently arrested, he regrouped after with several gangs and became more vicious and unleashes terror in the mentioned States of the Federation.
The Police also revealed that Evans and his gangs keep their victim kidnapped in Lagos Area at House No. 21 Prophet Asaye Close New Igando, Lagos State until the ransom is paid to him.
Ransom money are paid to him in Millions of Dollars, some victims are kept for upward of six to seven months until the last penny is paid. He never reduces his tagged ransom money. None of his gang members know his house.
On how he operated, the Police said, “In every kidnap attack, he has a separate armed group that kidnapped victims and another armed group who takes victims to their hideouts and prevent them from escaping.
“The members of the two ‘2’ groups don’t know each other. They complied with Evans instructions.
The Police added that Evans and the dreaded vampire who died during a gun duel with the Police Special Forces led by IRT and Imo State Police Command in a forest in River State early this year are axis of evil in kidnappings in Southern Nigeria States and some Northern State.
“This is a huge success for the Nigeria Police Force. The Force will build on this success and continue to prevent kidnap cases and criminality generally in the country, and ensure prompt detection of those crimes that cannot be prevented, and also ensure that perpetrators are arrested, investigated and prosecuted.”
The Police said with the multibillion naira he had earned from kidnapping, Evans was able to acquire two Mansions in Magodo GRA Phase 2 worth about three hundred million naira. The kidnap kingpin, the Police said also has two houses in the highbrow area of Accra City in Ghana among many other properties such as exotic cars, expensive watches, jewelries e.t.c
The Police listed Evans Kidnapping exploits in Lagos to include:
Mbarikatta William Uboma, 35, kidnapped June 16th, 2012 at about 11.am on his arrival from Hungary while he was close to his house. He was in his Toyota Car 2010 model in company of his brother to drop him at his house when a Passat car emerged from nowhere and blocked his car. They blindfolded him and forcefully abducted him to an unknown destination. They later demanded a ransom of N10M. However, N2M was later paid while they collected other personal accessories. He was finally dropped at Okota on the third day.
Some of the kidnppings carried out by the group as listed by the Police include:
- Paul Cole, 34, from Ohafia in Abia State. A Director with Ocean Glory Commodities, Apapa, kidnapped August 3rd, 2012 at Festac Town together with his General Manager, Jude Ugoje and another staff, PiriyeGogo, and taken to an unknown destination. They demanded for N10M. On August 6th 2012, they collected N5M ransom at Maza-maza area of Lagos State.
- Mohammed Jamal, 22, a Lebanese, kidnapped on August 19, 2012 at Ajah by three armed men, taken away blindfolded. N7M ransom was later paid at Ojo Barracks.
- Kingsley Nwokenta, 34, kidnapped September 19, 2012 after he left Lebanana Bar in Festac at Mile two under bridge. Later, paid N1.5M ransom while they made away with his black Toyota Venza and other accessories.
- Anthony Ozoanidobi, 41, kidnapped in October 10th 2012 along Marwa road Satellite Town. Ransom of N1.5M paid after which he was released at Apple Junction, Amuwo-Odofin.
- Leo Abraham 58, kidnapped August 20, 2012. Paid ransom of N5M and was later released along Badagry road, Lagos.
- Ojukwu Cosmas, 45, sells Toyota parts at Aspanda Trade Fair, Kidnapped January 21, 2016 at Festac Town. It was not clear when and how he was released.
- James Uduji; kidnapped close to his house at 7th Avenue Festac late last year. Held for 6 six weeks. Paid $1 million ransom to regain freedom.
- Chief Raymond Okoye – Odu- Na –Ichida, kidnapped 2015. Paid $1M as ransom, held captive for 2months
- Uche Okoroafor, trader at Alaba, kidnapped 2015, held captive for three (3) months, paid $1M.
- Elias Ukachukwu kidnapped November 2015. Paid $1M. Date of release unknown but it was gathered that his abductors were insisting on another $1M claiming family members were rude to them during negotiation.
- Francis Umeh also a spare parts dealer at Aspanda, kidnapped July 2016 at Raji Rasaki Estate, released after two months in captivity.
- The last Victim is Mr DanatusDunu he kidnapped in Ilupeju February 2017 and fortunately the man escaped from the Igando House where Evans kept him with his boys last month.