Evans NativeOne of the most notorious kidnappers who has been terrorising Nigeria for seven years, made millions of dollars from his immoral trade and was living like a royalty in several mansions across Africa’s most populous nation while leading gangs in many states and regions, has been arrested by security forces, police said.
The suspect, Chukwudidumeme Onuamadike, also known as Evans Native, was arrested at about 1pm on Saturday in his mansion at Magodo Estate in Lagos, and his arrest triggered jubilation across the nation. He was paraded by the police on Sunday.
Onuamadike is 36 years old and hails from Nnwei in Nnwei North Local Government Area of Anambra state in Nigeria’s Southeast.
One account said Evans was considered “the most brilliant and notorious high profile Kidnapper in the history of Nigeria who had collected billions of naira as ransoms over the last seven years as the Kingpin of Kidnappers”.
His notorious gang, Police said, was operation in Festac and Ojo areas of Lagos.
He kept his victims between six and seven months in captivity and only released them after family members struggled and paid between 300 million and 400 million naira as ransom in several installments.
Several wealthy Nigerians living in Festac and Amuwo Odofin Areas of Lagos relocated to Ikoyi, Lekki and Victoria Island and left their mansions empty because of Evans, Police said.
He also had another Kidnapping gang that operated in Port Harcourt, Bayelsa and Warri Delta State.
He is the Mastermind and only Survivor in the attempted Kidnapping Of Chief Vincent Obianudo, the Owner of Young Shall grow Motors in Festac Lagos August 2013.
Kidnapping in Nigeria is big business, and the latest arrest shows how hard it takes for security forces to fight it.