Following his arrest, kidnap kingpin, Chukwudi Dumeme Onuamadike, aka Evans, was on Sunday paraded in Lagos by the state Commissioner of Police, Fatai Owoseni.
Evans was arrested on Saturday in his mansion in Magodo Estate, Lagos, after a shootout with operatives of the Inspector-General of Police Intelligence Response Team and men of the Lagos State Police Command.
Before the arrest, he was said to have made several moves to escape but for the bravery of the IRT operatives, led by ACP Abba Kyari, that tamed him.
Owoseni, who was represented by the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Moshood Jimoh, paraded Evans alongside six members of his gang namely, Nwosu Chukwuma, aka Sudo, 42; Suoyo Paul aka Nwana, 42; Felix Chinemerem, 36; Ikenna Emeka, 28; Uchechukwu Amadi and Ogechi Amadi.
Evans had been on police wanted list over series of kidnapping cases in the last seven years.
While being paraded before newsmen, Evans confessed to having masterminded 10 kidnappings. The 36-year-old, who dropped out in Junior Secondary School 2, also confessed to have got $1m ransom from his last operation.
Evans added that he had acquired multi-billion naira choice properties in Magodo Estate, Lagos and Accra, Ghana with the ransom he collected from his criminal activities.
Five AK-47 rifles, one AK-49 rifle, Two English pistols, 59 AK-47 magazine with ammunition, 1272 pieces of live ammunition of AK-47 (9mm) and five number plates were reportedly recovered from the suspects.
The police said Evans raked in $4m from four of his 13 captives in Lagos, and used part of the proceed to acquire two mansions worth N300m in Magodo, another two houses in Accra, Ghana, exotic cars, wrist watches and jewellery worth millions of naira.
Some of his high-profile victims included one Uduji, who was kidnapped around his house at 7th Avenue Festac in 2016, and held for six weeks until a $1m ransom was paid, as well as one Okoroafor, a trader at Alaba International Market, who spent three months in hostage until $1m was paid for his release.
Evans said he went into kidnapping in 2010 when his spare parts business collapsed. He said he had two other fleeing gang members who helped him to scout for wealthy targets.
He said, “I was into importation of spare parts here in Lagos. But in 2010, customs seized my goods and I became stranded. That was when I went into kidnapping. I usually collect ransoms in dollars and the last I got was $1m.
“I am also into drug. I used the proceeds from kidnapping and drug to buy property. I have a wife and five children,” he said.
The Lagos police commissioner, Owoseni, however, reiterated his command’s commitment to curtailing criminal activities in Lagos state, adding that “criminal activities are now taboo in the state.”
