The leadership of the Nigerian Police, Monday, debunked claims it was under pressure over the arrest and investigation of the notorious kidnaper, Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike, popularly known as Evans.
The Force Public Relations Officer, Jimoh Moshood, gave the explanation while fielding questions on the African Independent Television, AIT.
Allaying fears expressed by Nigerians about the seeming slow pace of investigation into alleged crimes committed by the self-confessed billionaire kidnapper, Mr. Moshood said the Force was on top of the case.
He said, “We are still investigating some of the crimes allegedly committed by the man and his gang.
And I can tell Nigerians we are not under any pressure and won’t ever be.”
He, however, argued that there were related crimes committed by the suspect including the ones in Ghana and other African countries, which the police were investigating.
Mr. Moshood, therefore, urged Nigerians to be cautious of what they take from social media reports, stressing that most of such reports were based on unsubstantiated information.
He assured that the police will do everything within the ambit of the law to ensure the suspect was properly investigated and prosecuted to serve as a deterrent to other criminals.
He further argued that since the agency had obtained an order from the court to keep the suspect pending the conclusion of the investigation, the police would not do anything to jeopardise the court order.
Mr. Moshood called on Nigerians with useful information and evidence against the suspect to come forward and offer them to the agency and promised that such information will be treated with utmost confidence.
Barely three weeks after the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, placed a N30m bounty on notorious kidnapper, he was arrested by the police in Lagos on June 10.
The IGP Intelligence Response Team (IRT) led by Abba Kyari, an Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), finally arrested Evans, who has been on the wanted list of the police for over four years.
His arrest came on heels of the decision of the Lagos State Government to demolish his house at No 19 Ataye Street, by Lanre bus stop, New Lagos area, Igando, which he converted to a hideout for his gang members and their victims.
The suspect, who is said to be the brain behind most of the high-profile kidnap cases in the nation, has for over four years been declared wanted in three states of Edo, Anambra and Lagos.
Although Evans continually evaded arrest, he came up the police ‘radar’ over his involvement in the abduction of Innocent Duru, the owner of a multi-national pharmaceutical company at the Ilupeju area of Lagos.
With his nefarious reign on the increase, the IGP had mobilised resources to back the IRT in making sure he was arrested.
Going by the police profile on him, Evans is touted to be the most brilliant, crafty and richest of his ilk, thus making him a dangerous kidnapper.
