The rate of kidnapping has dropped following
the arrest of Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike
(a.k.a Evans), police said at the weekend.
Police spokesman Moshood Jimoh, who
spoke with The Nation in Abuja, said the
International Police (Interpol) was investigating Evans' activities.
"Rate Of Kidnapping Has Dropped Since The
Arrest Of Evans"; Police Spokesman
He said: "When we paraded him (Evans) in
Lagos, I told the public that the arrest of
Evans marked the beginning of the end for
kidnapping. "Since that day, the rate of
kidnapping has seriously gone down and that
shows that we were able to hit the right
target.
"As for keeping him (in custody), we have
been able to secure three months' remand
warrant from the Federal High Court, Abuja to
enable us round off our investigations. "At
present, the contacts and crimes he committed in other countries, including Ghana and South Africa, are of interest.
"We have series of complaints that border on
murder, several kidnappings and armed
robberies against him and these are all
capital offences that are not bailable at the
level of the police. "They are not even
ordinarily bailable in the courts."
Jimoh said Evans' detention was justifiable
and there would be no need to rush his case
and make mistakes that would disappoint
Nigerians.
"In his alleged offences, the lives of Nigerians
were at stake and we must be able to get
everything to ensure that we don't lose the
case in the courts.
"For any sensible police force, it won't be
appropriate to rush to court in a complex case
like this because investigation is a scientific
approach to actually situate a suspect at the
scene of crime and convince the court that
this is the person that did this and that.
"That is why it is important that we are
meticulous in putting details together and
explaining how someone committed atrocities
such that at the end of the day, Nigerians will
be happy with us if the suspect is convicted
for all the offences he committed alongside
other members of his gang.
"Nigerians will not be happy with us if we
rush to court and lose the case on mere
technicalities.
"We are mindful of that as well as his
fundamental human rights. That is why we
approached the courts for a three-month
remand warrant to keep him in police
custody," Jimoh explained.
He stated that Nigeria's membership of
Interpol and its platform's responsibilities
necessitate active collaboration on the Evans
case and the investigation of associated
issues.
"We are very active on the platform of Interpol. If you can recall, it was revealed that he (Evans) has a Ghanaian international passport and the passport is still very valid.
"There are clear indications of the level of
criminality that goes across the border.
"So, we will do what is just in that circumstance and after completinginvestigations, we will be able to know where we will share experience and ideas with various jurisdictions involved and we will all know how to deal with the matter.
"Yes, Interpol is already fully involved and we
are all out to do a thorough job and it is in the
interest of the public because such high level
suspects should not continue walking the
streets and committing such atrocities.
"We hope to ensure that the cause of justice
is served at the end of the day," Jimoh said.
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