The police yesterday explained why the alleged kidnap kingpin, Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike, aka Evans, was moved out of Lagos State Command to the Force Headquarters, Abuja.
A senior police officer who did not want his name in print confirmed that Evans had been moved out of Lagos by the Police. He stressed that he was only moved from the Lagos State Police Command to Police Headquarters Abuja, from where he would be taken to Ghana and South Africa for further investigations.
“You know that we got a court order to detain Evans for three months and the reason is to enable us conclude investigations, which will take us to Ghana and South Africa. That was the reason we moved him to Abuja. The rumour making round was that he has vanished. No, Evans is still in our custody. He did not vanish.
The clarification by the police came on the heels of a report in Saturday Sun, yesterday, which carried the banner headline, Evans Vanishes, buttressed with these bullets: Billionaire kidnapper’s whereabouts unknown; 30 heavily armed men move him out of Lagos at midnight.
When the story hit the newsstand and the website of The Sun, readers were quick to express umbrage over the headline.
Interestingly, the headline was a classic one done in the global tabloid news tradition to give the story an exciting touch.
It is to be noted that one of the meanings of the word, ‘vanish’ is, “sudden movement out of sight or inexplicably.”
It is also to be noted that the police had given briefings after Evans was arrested and also taken journalists to his Magodo home and Igando hideout. When the police decided to move the kidnap kingpin out of sight, it fuelled suspicion.
In the wake of the dust raised by the story yesterday, and to douse public anxiety, the Police Headquarters issued an official statement through the Force Public Relations Officer, Jimoh Moshood, who said: “Evans is intact in police custody. He did not vanish anywhere.”
The officer in-charge of the Intelligence Response Team (IRT), Assistant Commissioner of Police Abba Kyari, who corroborated the remarks of the police spokesman added: “In accordance with the 90-day remand order from the Federal High Court, investigation covering three countries is in progress. We cannot joke with the security of Nigeria. So, Evans has not vanished, he is in our custody.” (The Sun)
Could someone tell me why his presence (Evans) is needed in Ghana and South Africa before their investigation. This is a sign of weakness from a corrupt society. The Nigerian police knows nothing about international investigation. This is another avenue to chop public money. In a civilized world, they send investigator abroad and not the accuse. The presence of the accused kidnapper (Evans) is not needed in Ghana and South Africa. It’s time for Nigerians police to wake up and smell the roses. They can always conduct their investigation through the help of their counterpart in other countries. The Nigerian government should stop doing things the opposite way.
God bless you all, Amen.