A suspected kidnap kingpin, Chukwudi Onuamadike, also known as Evans, who was arrested by police in Lagos has said he chose to collect ransom in dollars to be different from other kidnappers.

Onuamadike, while being paraded at the Lagos Police Command, told newsmen that he started kidnapping in twenty-fifteen, after he left his spare parts business, a claim that contradicted the police statement that he was declared wanted in twenty-thirteen.

The suspect who was arrested in his mansion in Magodo area of the state claimed that he lost twenty million naira to Customs officers, which made him to leave his trade.

Evans, who wasn’t sure of how many people he had kidnapped, said the highest he had collected as ransom was one million dollars.

According to the police, Evans collected one million dollars from no fewer than four of his victims.

Among those the suspect kidnapped are: James Uduji, who was kidnapped close to his house at seventh Avenue Festac late last year, and held him for six weeks, until he paid one million dollars to regain his freedom.

Also, Chief Raymond Okoye-Odu-Na–Ichida, who was kidnapped in twenty-fifteen, who  paid one million dollars as ransom, before he was released after two months in captivity.

As well as Uche Okoroafor, a trader at Alaba who was also kidnapped in twenty-fifteen for three months, also paid one million dollars.

And, Elias Ukachukwu kidnapped November twenty-fifteen similarly paid one million dollars, but the Evans gang demanded an additional one million dollars, claiming family members were rude to them during negotiation.

According to Force Police Public Relations Officer, Jimoh Moshood, the suspect had collected billions of naira from his victims and had property in and outside the country.

Moshood, a Chief Superintendent of Police, said Evans was declared wanted in twenty-thirteen, following a kidnap attempt that was foiled by the police.

He said the suspect was said to have masterminded several kidnap cases in Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Osun and South-South states.

The Force Police Public Relations Officer said further investigation into his activities  were ongoing.