Evans: Why we are all kidnappers – Mike Ozekhome

Human Rights lawyer, Mike Ozekhome has explained why every Nigerian could be placed in the category as suspected kidnapper, Chukwudubem Owuamadike, a.k.a Evans.
Evans was arrested in his home in Lagos over two weeks ago and has allegedly made several confessions to the Nigerian media.

In a long statement, said Nigerians know who these kidnappers are and where they keep their victims but would not speak for one reason or the other.
Part of Ozekhome’s write up reads, “We are all Evans, one way or another. Simply summarised, Evans had viciously kidnapped targeted and profiled wealthy members of the society, especially on the FESTAC, ASPAMDA axis. He would manacle and shackle them, hands and feet, in his inhuman detention dungeons spread across Lagos and some other states of the federation.
“He would then dictate to the trembling victims, how much money they must pay in pounds, euros and dollars, to secure their precious lives. He was in total control. Though barely literate, having dropped out in form three in secondary school, his educational inadequacy is hugely compensated for in his elephantine native intelligence. He would never negotiate with his captives’ relations and friends. That was too risky. He rather dictated, not negotiated, directly, with his squirmy victims under threats of death.

“To aid his horrendously lucrative blood “business”, he had about 170 telephone lines. Two of his handsets were Thuraya and Vertu, costing N2.4 million and N2.6million, respectively. This princely sum of N5 million for only two telephone handsets is enough to set up a thriving business for a Nigerian; or build a four-bedroom bungalow; or buy 35 commercial motorcycles to empower struggling unemployed graduates, whose only “crime” is that they went through pains and pangs to study in the university, while Evans was busy acquiring the latest global kidnap tactics and strategies.

“The good news is that the long arm of the law, though slow, has finally caught up with Evans. But, the bad news is that we are all certified kidnappers in the mould of Evans.
“I will tell you why. Evans never kept his victims in lonely, desolate, eerie jungles where owls hoot ominously and monkeys do tricky “janglover” jumps on tree branches. When I was kidnapped for three weeks, I was kept in the jungles. But, I could hear church music, native drumming and singing, not far away. I could decipher the local language from the lyrics. Our kidnappers used cars and motorcycles to purchase food stuff and fuel. I was convinced that the locals very well knew what “profession” my kidnappers were into. They obviously condoned it or, perhaps, enjoyed the resultant blood money.

“God, I thank you eternally for saving my life. It was most horrific an experience. Death by installments! Fear of death; fear of fear! But, Evans unusually kept his captives inside busy neighbourhoods and estates. From the pictures and videos shown of his detention cells in new Igando town and Jakande Estate, Isolo, Lagos, Evans daringly operated right inside busy communities. Did neighbours not see suspicious movements over the years?
“Did they not do simple inquiry and due diligence, as to who their next door neighbours were; and what they did for a living? Did neighbours not observe unusual vehicular traffic, taking in and ejection of passengers, some skirmishes and then sudden dead silence? Were they not worried that their immediate neighbours did not come out openly in the day time to associate and interact with others? If they did, could they not simply interview such neighbours in a friendly manner, as to their names, what they did for a living; where they worked; their state of origin; profession, etc.
“We become automatic complicit kidnappers when, out of negligence, indifference and sheer idiocy, we allow vicious, murderous kidnappers to live in our midst, and keep our brothers and sisters in dungeons next doors.”