Evans, arrested kidnap kingpin: I’ve been involved in armed robbery, drug peddling, before kidnapping

Notorious most wanted kidnap kingpin, Chukwudubem George Onwuamadike, alias Evans, has disclosed how he went into high profile kidnapping.

Evans, who was paraded on Sunday along with six other members of his gang at the Command Headquarters, Ikeja by the police spokesman, Jimoh Moshood, a Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP), disclosed that he first went into armed robbery, then drug trafficking and finally veered off into kidnapping.

The names of his six accomplices were given as Felix Chinemerem; Nwosu Chikodi Chukwuma, 42, (Sudo); Suoyo Paul, 42 (Nwana); Ikenna Emeka, 28; Uchechukwu Amadi and Ogechi Amadi.

The suspect, who police described as brilliant and rich, said he escaped being killed by his business associate in South Africa where he went to sell drug.

He tells his story: “I was into auto spare parts importation but lost N25 million when Customs seized my goods. From there, I relocated to South Africa, where I started peddling drugs.

“But along the line, my business partner shot me and passed me off as dead. I recuperated in an hospital in Cape Town. I returned to Nigeria and decided to start kidnapping rich men for ransom.”

Evans said he “was among the gang who attempted to kidnap the owner of Young Shall Grow Motors, Chief Vincent Obianodo. But unfortunately two of my gang members were killed in the operation.”

He said: “I started my own gang, consisting of six men in Lagos. I direct them to any part of the country to work. They usually go in groups of three or four to execute any mission. Others are recruited according to the particular operations and ones the job is through they are discharged.”

The suspect claimed that he has never killed anyone, adding that most of those killed during operations were done by his gang members.

“Urchman, Uche and Nnamdi were the ones who carried weapons and one Chinedu and a certain Ehis brought contacts and names of victims to be kidnapped. We have kidnapped about 10 people since I started my own gang in 2015. Uyi Technical and Dan Odete who brought N100million and N50million ransom respectively, which were picked up under China’s (another gang leader) reign and I got N10m as my share.”

Evans said: “The highest amount I have collected was $1million from Festac. I don’t know my networth. I don’t have any money in the bank. I operate only one account. I collect dollars because it’s my choice. It’s not true that victims pay money to an account in South Africa.

“Once the victims pay the ransom, the money goes to the people who own it. I don’t have a boss but some people own the money. Does money stay with a human being?” He queried reporters.

“I have people heading different sections. There are two gangs that work for me in every operation. It is not all the time I follow them for the job. Most times, I control them on phone. The two gangs do not know themselves and none of them know my house.

“Two people take charge of the detention camp at Igando and on every operation, I pay them N2million each. My parents are in the village. My mother knows what I do but she has never approved of it. I have five children; three boys and two girls. I sent my family to Canada.

“I have dual citizenship – Nigeria and Ghana. I got visa for my family in Ghana because I couldn’t get it in Nigeria. I have not left Nigeria since 2007 when I returned from South Africa but my family usually travels and I also give money to people to buy whatever I need or I buy online.

“Most of our victims are targeted and picked along the road or before they enter their homes. We do not pick victims from their homes. I believe it was time for me to be arrested, that was why I was caught because I have always been in Nigeria. I am suffering from abdominal cancer and I am always on drug.

“Uche Amadin is incharge of the detention camp at Igando. At first, I told him I was into International business (drugs) but along the line, he knew it was kidnapping and he stayed with me. He was the one who brought his wife into it not me because he was the one who said I should rent a house for them with his wife’s name.

“I am feeling bad. People who are still into kidnapping should quit. They should learn from what has happened to me.”

The 36 year old Evans who is a native of Nnwei in Nnwei North local government area of Anambra state is said to be the godfather of all kidnappers in Nigeria as many high profile kidnap cases in Rivers, Bayelsa, Lagos, Delta states and other parts of the country, has his signature on them.

Evans had been on the wanted list of the Anambra, Edo and Lagos state police commands for the past four years. He was however arrested at his Magodo residence on Saturday June 10, 2017 at about 1pm.