Onwuamadike’s
kidnap gang denied their kingpin while they were being paraded by the
police at the Lagos state Parade headquarters on Sunday.
The
kingpin, famously referred to as “Evans” and six other members of his
gang were arrested yesterday by the police at his Magodo residence after
long hours of gun battle between the gang and the members of the
Nigerian police force.
Suoyo Paul, one of the gang members, said
he had never been part of any kidnap operation with Evans. He confessed
to having met Evans sometimes in 2007 as a friend to his former boss but
had never had any engagement with him.
The 42 years old native
of Bayelsa state said he stopped kidnapping and released his guns as
part of the Federal Amnesty agreement he signed with the federal
government in 2009
However, he confessed that Evans contacted him
a few days ago, claiming that the police had seized his guns and he
needed him to supply him with guns.
“I have never one day gone to
kidnap with him. But when he got into a problem with the police, he
called me that the police had seized his guns and if I can get him more
guns from Bayelsa. He said he will pay N3 million into my account if I
was able to supply him guns. It was the call that th police used to
trace me” Paul told pressmen.
Also, Ikenna Emeka, who was
introduced as head of the gang’s hostage camp in Igando, said he has not
for once gone on any kidnap operation with Evans, alleging only to
running errands for the kingpin after he returned from Malaysia last
year October.
He also claimed never met the Evans but only took instructions from him via phone calls.
“I
have never gone on any operations with him. He only sends me messages,
like to go and meet people or to go and give somebody money but I have
never gone on kidnapping with him and I have never carried gun before. I
have never been to his house. He only calls me on phone with a private
number and you cannot call him back” said the 28 years old native of
Anambra state.
Evans was declared wanted in 2013 after a failed attempt to kidnap the owner of Young Shall Grow Motors, Vincent Obianudo.
According
to the Force Public Relations Officer, Jimoh Moshood, three of Evans
members were killed during the failed kidnap attempt but the police were
unable to get Evans picture which he claimed would have helped in
apprehending him faster that it was.
He also revealed that the
police officer who led the team that foiled the 2013 attack was killed
during the faceoff between the gang members and members of the Nigerian
Police force.
Five AK-47 rifles, one AK-49 rifle, two
double-barrel rifles, two English pistols, 59 AK-47 magazines with
ammunition, 1272 rounds of live ammunition for AK-47 rifle, and five
different plate numbers, were recovered from the Evans and his gang.
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