How notorious kidnapper, Evans was caught like a chicken On June 11,
2017 6:00 am In Crime Guard By Emma Nnadozie, Crime Editor, Evelyn Usman
and Ifeanyi Okolie
There was tumultuous ovation and excitement,
yesterday, Read here at the Force Headquarters, Kam Salem House, Abuja, and the
Police Command, Ikeja, Lagos, after news filtered that the notorious and
most dreaded kidnap kingpin in the country, Evans, has been arrested by
the Inspector-General of Police Intelligence Response Team, IRT, inside
his bedroom, in the Magodo area of Lagos. Evans Evans, described as the
most notorious, high profile kidnapper – and the richest in Nigeria –
was, at last, unmasked. Before yesterday’s arrest, the Police had placed
a N30million bounty on his head.
When Policemen broke into his room to
arrest him, he was said to have sheepishly said, “I know this is the
end,m I am finished”. His real name is Chukwudidumeme Onuamadike, aged
36, and hails from Umudim Village, Nnewi North Local Government Area of
Anambra State.
Sunday Vanguard has been made to understand that during
preliminary questioning, Evans confessed to having been behind virtually
all the high profile kidnap incidents in places including but not
limited to Lagos, Port Harcourt, Onitsha, Aba.
His exploits also
included the 2013 attempted kidnapping of the owner of The Young Shall
Grow Motors. He was said to have confessed that the kidnap job was
brought to him by one Emeka.
He also confessed that he has two
properties in Ghana, one of which is where his wife and five children
have reportedly moved into.
Among many items recovered from him
yesterday during his arrest were expensive phones, one of which is put
at a cost of $6,000.
His arrest yesterday, came just few weeks after
many members of his gang, including his second and third in command,
were rounded up at different locations in the country.
Their arrest came
few days after one of their victims, Donatus Dunu, a wealthy owner of a
pharmaceutical company at Ilupeju, Lagos, escaped miraculously from the
hideout where they kept him for months.
He was abducted in front of his
office in Ilupeju, on February 14, 2017, after he closed for the day,
by gun-totting young men who blocked his car with their SUV and threw
him into the booth of the car. Members of his family later paid about
N150m to effect his release. But the kidnappers insisted on getting
N500m.
They threatened to kill their victim if the full ransom was not
paid. Luckily, few weeks after the payment of the ransom and their
consistent threat to kill their victim, Dunu miraculously escaped from
their hideout at Igando, a suburb of Lagos. He, thereafter, alerted
security agents who swung into action and started rounding up members of
the gang.
Information made available to Sunday Vanguard by very
dependable sources suggested that efforts of the police paid off on
Friday night, after they were able to locate Evans’ where about, using
sophisticated communication gadgets provided by the Inspector-General of
Police.
Police sources hinted that while almost all police formations
in the country were on red alert trying to locate the notorious kidnap
kingpin, the Inspector-General of Police, who was visibly angry with the
delay, sent three special teams attached to his office down to Lagos to
complement the efforts of those on ground.
It was further gathered that
the teams came with new sophisticated communication gadgets for the
operation.
Intelligence reports had indicated that failure to arrest the
Evans was not unconnected with his possession of some state of the art
jamming device, which made it easy for him to serially knock off signals
that would have enabled men of the force pin him down.
The change in
equipment, according to sources, paid off at last, after detectives were
able to locate his where about late Friday night – even though his
telephone sets were already switched off to avoid detection.
He was
reportedly traced to his palatial home in Magodo, Lagos, while he had
already packed his bags and baggages, ready to fly to South Africa, the
next day.
It was gathered that after his arrest, the elated members of
the IGP’s team, led by Deputy Superintendent of Police, Philip,
immediately alerted their leader, ACP Aba Kyari, who gave the
Inspector-General the cheering news.
In Lagos, officers and men of other
formations, including civilians, rushed to catch a glimpse of the
dare-devil kidnapper that gave them sleepless nights. It was learned
that people even came from far-away Festac and Amuwo-Odofin/Ojo axis
where he held sway during his inglorious reign by abducting wealthy men
and forcing them to pay not less than N500m before they were set free.
As at the time of going to press, detectives were yet to give access to
the suspect but a police source said he may be paraded by the state
Commissioner of Police, Fatai Owoseni, today.
His Exploits:
1 Mbarikatta
William Uboma, 35, kidnapped June 16th, 2012, at about 11am, on his
arrival from Hungary, while he was close to his house. He was in the
company of his brother, on their way from the airport, when another car
emerged and blocked theirs. They grabbed Uboma, blindfolded him and
forcefully abducted him – he was taken 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.
2. Paul Cole, 34, from Ohafia in Abia State. A Director
with Ocean Glory Commodities, Apapa, he was kidnapped on August 3rd,
2012, at Festac Town, together with his General Manager, Jude Ugoje, and
another staff, Piriye Gogo, and taken to an unknown destination. They
demanded for N10M. On August 6th, 2012, they collected N5M ransom at
Maza-maza, before letting their victim off the hook.
3. Mohammed Jamal,
22, a Lebanese, was kidnapped on August 19, 2012, at Ajah by three armed
men, taken away and blindfolded. N7M ransom was later paid at Ojo
Barracks.
4. Kingsley Nwokenta, 34, was kidnapped on September 19, 2012,
at Mile two under bridge, after he left Lebanana Bar, in Festac. Later,
he paid N1.5M ransom while they made away with his black Toyota Venza
and other accessories.
5. Anthony Ozoanidobi, 41, was kidnapped on
October 10th, 2012, along Marwa Road Satellite town. Ransom of N1.5M was
paid after which he was released at Apple junction, Amuwo-Odofin
6. Leo
Abraham 58, was Kidnapped on August 20, 2012. He paid ransom of N5M and
was later released along Badagry road, Lagos.
7. Ojukwu Cosmas, 45,
sells Toyota parts at Aspanda Trade fair. He was kidnapped on January
21, 2016, at Festac town. It was not clear when and how he was released.
8. James Uduji was kidnapped close to his house at 7th Avenue, Festac
Town, late last year. Held for 6 six weeks. He paid a ransom of $1M.
9.
Chief Raymond Okoye – Odu-Na-Ichida. He was kidnapped in 2015. He also
paid $1M as ransom, after being held captive for 2months
10. Uche
Okoroafor, a trader at Alaba, was kidnapped in 2015, and held captive
for three months. He also parted with $1M.
11. Elias Ukachukwu was
kidnapped in November 2015. He, too, paid $1M. The date of his release
could not be ascertained but it was gathered that his abductors were
insisting on another $1M ransom, claiming family members were rude to
them during negotiation.
12 Francis Umeh, also a spare parts dealer at
Aspanda, was kidnapped in July 2016, at Raji Rasaki Estate. Released
after two months in captivity.
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