Speaking on his arrest, Abba Kyari had revealed that Evans was arrested at his residence in Magodo Estate where he lived with his wife and children. However they were not at home when his illegal journey came to an end.
If there is an award for the most popular alleged criminal in Nigeria, the inglorious crown would sit perfectly well on the head of Chukwudubem Onwumadiek, a.k.a Evans whose reign in the kingdom of kidnappers came to an end on Saturday, June 10, 2017 when he was arrested by the inspector-general of police intelligence response team led by Abba Kyari, an assistant commissioner of police.
Before his arrest, the notorious kidnapper had been a pain in the neck of security officials and wealthy Nigerians who were his prey. Evans played his devilish game so well that most of his gang members did not know his true identity until he was arrested. Speaking on his arrest, Abba Kyari had revealed that Evans was arrested at his residence in Magodo Estate where he lived with his wife and children. However they were not at home when his illegal journey came to an end.
Kyari had said “IRT headquarters in Abuja is celebrating the arrest of the most wanted brilliant and notorious high profile kidnapper in Nigeria. He has collected several billions of Naira as ransom in the last seven years as the kingpin of kidnappers. Evans was said to have masterminded kidnapping operations in Anambra, Edo and Lagos, with Lagos placing a 30 Million Naira bounty on him. He was arrested at about 1.00p.m on Saturday, June 10, in his residence in Magodo Estate, Lagos,”
However, since his arrest the name Evans has not ceased to appear on the timeline of the press and social media user as Evans keeps crying like a chick that has lost its way home.
First Cry
According to a family source, Evans was warned by a prophet about his “impending danger” a warned Evans turned a deaf ear to. “I saw him at the ASPAMDA market, Trade Fair market, Lagos. I was telling him about the rumours making the rounds that he was a kidnapper, but he denied it, telling me that the allegation was a lie. Well, as we were talking, a prominent prophet walked in and warned him about impending danger. Evans still denied that he was doing something dubious.” The family source had reportedly said.
Evans whose victims allegedly suffered various degree of inhumane treatment cried profusely on the day of his arrest blaming his Herbalist for his woes. “My juju man said that I was like the wind that can never be seen. I trusted him, but see how I was picked like a common criminal. If I have my way, the juju man will pay for his sins.” Evans had said with tears in his eyes.
Second Cry
A few days after his arrest, while still regretting his action Evans spoke with a journalist whom he told that he was ready to die. “I want to die. I can’t stand this humiliation. What am I living for? When I saw the policeman dash towards me I ran inside. I was not running to escape. I ran to see if I could end it before they could take me. But time was short. They followed me into the room. I have seen it all, I want to die and have some rest.
Speaking further he said “The only thing I want now is for the government to take care of my children, educate them and don’t allow them to become criminals. I have begged Abba Kyari, to do this for me and he assured me that the Lagos State government would take them to an orphanage home where they would grow to become better persons in the society. I have been diagnosed with Colon cancer and I wish I could die.”
Third Cry
As the police continued with its interrogation, Evans who started out as an armed robber continued crying in cell. “He has been weeping uncontrollably because he is in a cell with common poor criminals despite all the wealth and mansions he owned”, a police source had said.
Fourth Cry
While standing trial before Justice Hakeem Oshodi on Friday, November 17, 2017, Evans had cried out to the court about their feeding condition in prison custody.
Sahara Reporters had reported that according to Evans, the prison authorities deprived him of change of clothes, food, and water since Wednesday.
"This is unfair, I have not been given food and change of clothes. I was not given the opportunity to bathe since Wednesday. I am seriously hungry now. They locked us in one place, no food and no water to bathe. The last we were fed was when a wife of one of us brought food" he lamented.
Evans’ lawyer, Olukoya Ogungbeje, asked the court to grant permission for him to have access to food. He said: "apart from being starved my lord, they are locked up in solitary confinement with no access to anybody. If this continues, they may not be in the right frame of mind to continue the trial".
Town Crier
Evans, who was at the Lagos State High court, where he was arraigned on two fresh charges of kidnapping, on Monday, 7, 2018.
He was, however, prevailed upon by warders acting on the orders of Justice Adedayo Akintoye to bring him out of the van. As he appeared before the judge, Evans, dressed in a pair of shorts and a green T-shirt, signaled to him that he wanted to say something.
“I have an explanation to make," he said in handcuffs "Since I have been in the maximum prison, they have been maltreating me; no visit, they don’t feed me well, I have eye problem and I cannot see afar.”
Refuting his claim, one of the prison officials said: “We have been treating him very well; he is well-fed and people have been visiting him.
“A doctor has been checking him; the doctor came to check him yesterday (Sunday) and even this morning before coming to court... because he was saying he can’t be in court, that he is not feeling fine.
“But when the doctor checked him yesterday (Sunday) and this morning, the doctor said he was healthy and that he saw no reason why he shouldn’t be in court."
As Evans continues to face his trial in the hands of the law hopefully he will continue to send down his rain of tears.