The Nigeria Police has arrested the arms supplier of Evans the kidnapper after two years manhunt.
However, Godwin Chinyere allegedly sold most of the firearms, ammunition and rocket launchers used by billionaire kidnapper, Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike, A.k.A Evans.
He was arrested by operatives of the Inspector-General of Police Intelligence Response Team (IRT).
Evans was arrested in June 2017 in his mansion at the Highbrow area of Magodo, Lagos State. His arrest was done by the IRT led by Deputy Commissioner of Police, Abba Kyari.
Meanwhile, he is currently standing trial at the Lagos State High Courts of Igbosere.
Evans was said to have mentioned Godwin Chinyere during his arrest as his major arms supplier.
Sources disclosed that Evans confessed during his arrest that some of the rocket launchers and Ak-47 rifles used by his members during their operations were all supplied by Chinyere.
However, Godwin Chinyere is said to have contacts with arms dealers in Chad and Niger Republic.
The source explained that operatives of the IRT launched a manhunt on Chinyere immediately they got information from Evans.
However, Chinyere became elusive and went into hiding when Evans was arrested. Knowing fully well that Evans would give out information.
Moreover, Chinyere came out of hiding recently when he felt that the Evans case has done with the court. And the IRT operatives hunting for him may have faced other things.
Notwithstanding, he was trailed to Asaba, Delta State, where he was hiding and was apprehended.
Godwin confessed to selling five Ak-47 rifles to Evans the kidnapper when he was interviewed. And he said he began selling and making firearms in the year 1990 after he dropped out of primary school. As his parents couldn’t afford his school fees.
Godwin stated that he learned how to make locally made guns from his boss, late Chinaka Nnawakwo. Nwankwo according to him was killed by security operatives for gun-running.
Godwin stated thus: “I learned how to make locally made guns from a village known as Abala.
It was one chinaka Nnawakwo that thought me the job. I spent three years learning the gun making before I started making my own.
I have several customers who were gun runners coming to buy guns from me in large quantities. I usually sell locally made double barrel guns for the sum of N10,000. Single barrel was sold for N6,000. While the locally made short guns were sold for N10,000.
However, one of my customers, Samuel Nwakpa, who was coming from Kaduna State to buy guns from me was the person who linked me to big arms dealers in Chad and Niger republic.
Besides, they were the people who supplied to me the five Ak-47 rifles I sold to Evans which he used.
I met Evans when he came to my village to treat his bullet wound. His native doctor, Eyinaya Hearth, linked him to me.
I knew he was using it for armed robbery and for kidnapping. Evans paid me the sum of N1.7million for the five Ak-47 rifles after they were supplied to me from Chad.
The rifles were concealed in bags of fish and I took my commissions and gave the rest of the money to Nwakpa. Nwakpa supplied the rocket launchers to Evans.
Before Evans the kidnapper was arrested, I had stopped doing the business and turned a new leaf.
Moreover, I fled and went into hiding when he was arrested because I knew he was going to mention my name to the police.
And I don’t even know that the police is still looking for me. When I came out of hiding, I was arrested.
