Nigerian security operatives are jittery over
the ability of notorious kidnap kingpin,
Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike, aka, Evans,
to organise an escape if remanded in prison
custody.
According to Vanguard, Evans pose a security
threat to Nigeria if he is remanded
The operatives believe that the sophisticated
kidnapper could use his high profile network to
obtain some respite in prison and organise a
break-out eventually.
It was also learnt that all the monies and properties criminally
obtained by the kidnapper during his 20-year reign have not been traced
and in such a situation where he has access to such vast sums of money,
he could use his money while in prison to reoganise his network and set
up a new gang.
The police have obtained a court order and as
such, are legally backed to detain the high profile kidnapper for the next three months before his prosecution.
The security source claimed that top criminals with access to huge
sums of money when arrested are treated with respect by prison officials
and consequently given access to social amenities like cell phones and
internet connections.
The source said: "High-profile criminals enjoy
VIP treatments in prison custody because
they have money. We have learned that these
suspects usually pay the warders to be
detained in cells that are classified as VIP,
and they would have access to their phones
as well as the internet. These suspects don't
usually feel like they are in prison custody
because they enjoy unlimited access to
visitors anytime.
"Since his money has not been recovered
completely because we had information that
he has hotels in Ghana and South Africa, it
will be wrong to send him to prison. He is
also said to have auto spare parts outlets in
Ghana and some other Africa countries.
People working for him are numerous and the
Police are yet to arrest all of them. If he is
remanded in prison with these assets
unrecovered, Evans could rule any prison.
Evans, can be in prison and easily recruit men
outside, radicalise them, buy them arms and
send them out for operations. Evans can
organise a jailbreak
"Evans could enjoy the security of the prison
and unleash terror on the society. We have
seen a lot of criminals like him and they have
done same.
"We have had several cases like that in the
past. We had the case of Henry Chibueze,
alias Vampire, who kidnapped and killed
several persons and was arrested in 2015 by
the Department of State Security Service,
DSS. While in prison, Vampire sponsored
several groups, who carried out kidnappings
on his behalf. Having raised enough money he
staged an escape from the prison while he
was being taken to court. Luckily for us, he
was gunned down, a few weeks after his
escape. There were also other cases in Abuja
and Port Harcourt Rivers state, recently.
Backing his claim that criminals in prisons
could still orchestrate crime in the free
society, the source highligeted the escapades
a suspect in Kuje and Port Harcourt prisons.
He said the suspect masterminded several
fraudulent acts while locked up in the prison.
"When members of the syndicate were
arrested, they confessed that their leader was
serving in Kuje Prison. One of the cases in
Port Harcourt saw a detainee operating a
massive kidnap gang. The kidnapper had
organized several kidnappings before
members of his gang were apprehended and
he was exposed."
In the new suit filed on Thursday, June 29,
Evans is claiming N300 million as general and
exemplary damages against the police for
alleged illegal detention and unconstitutional
media trial.
