I made billions from kidnapping, drug trafficking –Evans

·       Suspect: Nigerian Customs forced me into crime

The ‘deadliest and most brilliant’ suspected kidnapper, Mr Chukwudi Dumeme Onuamadike aka Evans, yesterday, stunned journalists and policemen when he openly confessed that his mother knew he made his wealth through crime.

Evans was arrested after being hunted by police for seven years. He was arrested on Saturday around 1pm at his Magodo Estate mansion, Lagos State.

Evans was arrested along with some of his members identified as Nwosu Chikodi Chukwuma 42, aka Sudo, Suoyo Paul 42, aka Nwana, Felix Chinemerem, 36, Ikenna Emeka 28, Uchechukwu Amadi, and Ogechi Amadi.

Chinemerem is alleged to be the second in command of Evans’s gang. Chukwuma is the third in command in the gang. He allegedly has over 20 years’ experience in armed robbery and eight years’ experience in kidnapping. Chukwuamadi, another member, was described as Evans ‘boy’ and allegedly heads the detention camp in Igando.

Ogechi is the woman who cooks for the kidnappers and their victims. Paul allegedly supplies rifles and ammunitions to Evans. The gang is alleged to be connected to the late notorious kidnapper, Benjamin Osinachi aka China.

Evans and China worked together in the abduction of the Chairman, Ejigbo Local Council Development Area, Kehinde Bamigbetan in 2013. They also kidnapped a Federal High Court judge in Lagos, among other prominent figures.

Just like China, Evans wife and five children are based in Ghana. China was later killed, along with his six members at Seme Boarder in fatal gun duel with SARS operatives.

Presenting the suspects before journalists yesterday, the Force Public Relations Officer, Jimoh Moshood, listed some of Evans’ victims as Mbarikatta William Uboma, Paul Cole, Director with Ocean Glory Commodities, Apapa, Mohammed Jamal, a Lebanese, Kingsley Nwokenta, Anthony Ozoanidobi, Leo Abraham, Ojukwu Cosmas, James Uduji, Chief Raymond Okoye, Uche Okoroafor, Elias Ukachukwu, Francis Umeh and Donatus Dunu just to mention a few.

Evans said that his billions and property did not only come from just kidnapping. He said he was also into drug trafficking. He had once been shot in South Africa. He treated the bullet wound at Cape Town.

Explaining why he went into kidnapping, Evans said: “I have abducted about 10 victims. I can’t remember everything I did or those I abducted.  I was importing spare parts, when Nigerian Customs officers impounded my goods worth over N20million. It’s not only kidnapping I do, I’m also into drug trafficking.”

The suspect, who dropped out of secondary school while in junior secondary school (JSS2), said: “Police were able to catch me now, because it was time for me to be caught. I control my operation through phone. I have people that watch the victims. Chinedu, Eyis and Kingsley used to get targets.

“I collect ransom in dollars because it’s my choice. I don’t how much I have made so far. I don’t work with any politician, police or army. I got the weapons I used in operation from Chinedu. I met Chinedu at Ago Palace, in a beer parlour. But it was Kingsley who introduced me into kidnapping. He is now late.”

Asked how many bank accounts he has, he said one, with GTB. He denied that the account was a domiciliary one. Asked what he does with his dollars, he responded: “Nobody stays at home with money. Once we get it, we give it to the owners.”

He, however, refused to mention the owners.

According to him, his mother knew he was into crime, but she doesn’t support it.

Although his buildings at Magodo, Lagos State had people gasping in shock because of their size and worth, Evans said they were small compared to his buildings in Lagos.

Police have only discovered his two buildings in Magodo, another in Igando and a hotel in Festac. He also has buildings in Anambra State, where he allegedly used in keeping his victims hostage.

His words: “I started kidnapping in 2008, in Anambra State. It was from there I moved to Edo State. My mother does not come to my house, but she knows that I am into crime. She just doesn’t support it. I bought this house for N130million. I have two houses in Magodo.

“I kidnapped three persons in Anambra State. In 2010,   we kidnapped Director of Dan Odiete. We collected N100, 000. The men who did the job with me were from Warri, Delta State. I kidnapped another victim and collected N10million. I moved to Lagos in 2013. I really don't know the names of people I have kidnapped in FESTAC Town. But if I see any of my victims, I will recognize them and I’ll be able to tell how I abducted them.”

Asked how he used to get his targets, Evans said: “I have people who used to give me information about my victims. I don't know where I can reach anybody, but they usually call to give me information. We only meet when it’s necessary. When it’s time to meet, I call and give them location. When we are going for operation we wear army uniforms.”

Evans said that since he embraced kidnapping, operations had always been smooth until he and his gang abducted the multi-millionaire pharmacist, Mr Donatus Dunu.

Evans said: “The pharmacist job was the only one that gave us problem. The highest ransom I have collected since I started kidnapping is $1million dollars. I collected it from victim we abducted in Festac. No, I don’t work with Niger Delta militant kidnappers.”

The suspect, who used to keep his victims in captivity between six to seven months, waiting to collect the complete ransom said: “I keep my victims for months because I want their families to pay the complete ransom I demanded. I have people who used to cook for my victims. One of my men, Uche, stays in the house with the victims. Another of our men stays in the house with Uche and the victims. I usually pay Uche N20million for every successful operation.”

Evans said that once his gang abducts victims, he does the negotiation himself.  

“I have six boys in Lagos working for me. My house in Ghana is bigger than this my mansion. In our operation, we don’t kill,” said Evans.

Speaking on his gang’s attempted abduction of the owner of Young Shall Grow Motor, Chief Vincent Obianudo, in Festac Lagos, on August 2013, Evans said: “It was five of us that went for the abduction of Chief Vincent Obianudo. Uche and Hutch man were killed. Nnamdi, Nwoke and I survived. I was the person that drove on that day.”

‎Moshood further noted: “The Joint Special Forces led by the Intelligence Response Team, the Lagos State Police Command’s Anti-Kidnapping Unit and Technical and Intelligent Unit of the Force under the supervision of the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr Fatai Owoseni, commissioner on June 10, 2017 swooped and raided the criminal fortress of Evans. He is the leader of a highly organized kidnap for ransom syndicate and criminal gang terrorizing and responsible for several kidnap of prominent Nigerians in Lagos State, including the western, eastern, south-south and some northern states.  “His gang members are spread across these mentioned states. After an intense gun battle between the gang members and police, the police over powered them. His gang members were used as bait to catch him in his Magodo Estate, Lagos State.”

The image maker noted that Evans as first declared  wanted in August, 2013 after he masterminded the attempted kidnap of chief Vincent Obianudo, owner of the Young Shall Grow Motors, in Festac, Lagos. In that operation, a policeman attached to the victim foiled the attack and killed three of Evans’s gang members. The policeman, however, lost his life in the process.  

After that confrontation, some of Evans’s gang members were arrested, but the suspect escaped. Evans regrouped with several gangs and became more vicious.

Moshood disclosed: “Evans and his gangs keep their victims in Lagos area at House No. 21 Prophet Asaye Close, New Igando, Lagos State until the ransom is paid.  Ransom money is 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.”

Moshood explained that in every kidnap attack, Evans has a group that would abduct victim and another that would take the victim to their hideouts.

“The members of the two groups don’t know each other.  They complied with Evans instructions,” said Moshood.

Disclosing property owned by Evans, Moshood said: “The suspect has two mansions in Magodo GRA Phase 2 worth about N300, 000,000. He also has two houses in the highbrow area of Accra City, Ghana among others. He also has exotic cars, expensive wrist watches, jewelry and phones.”

Evans kidnapping exploits in Lagos includes; Mbarikatta William Uboma, 35, kidnapped on June 16, 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.  A Passat car emerged from nowhere and blocked his car. He was grabbed and blindfolded. 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.

Paul Cole, 34, from Abia State, is a director with Ocean Glory Commodities, Apapa. He was kidnapped on August 3, 2012 at Festac Town, together with his General Manager, Jude Ugoje and another staff, Piriyegogo. The kidnappers demanded for N10m. On August 6, 2012, they collected N5m ransom at Maza-Maza area of Lagos State.

Others are James Uduji; he was kidnapped close to his house at 7th avenue Festac late last year. He was held for six weeks and later paid $1m. Chief Raymond Okoye was kidnapped in 2015, held for two months and paid $1m before he was released. Ucheokoroafor, a trader at Alaba, was kidnapped in 2015, held captive for three months and later paid $1m.

Eelias Ukachukwu was kidnapped in November 2015 and paid $1m ransom.

The last victim is Mr Danatus Dunu, who was kidnapped in Ilupeju in February 2017. Fortunately, he escaped from the Igando house where Evans kept him with his boys last month.