TheCable

Godwin Chinyere, a 46-year-old arms dealer, who was alleged to have sold most of the firearms used by Chukwudumeme Owuamadike, suspected kidnap kingpin known as Evans, has been arrested by operatives of the police intelligence response team (IRT).

Evans, who was arrested in June 2017 and currently standing trial at the Igbosere high court in Lagos state, was said to have mentioned Chinyere as his major arms supplier.

According to police sources, Evans said some of the rocket launchers and Ak-47 rifles used by members of his gang during their operations were all supplied by Chinyere.

He was quoted as saying Chinyere had contacts with arms dealers in Chad and the Niger Republic.

The sources explained that thereafter, operatives of the IRT launched a manhunt on Chinyere but he became “elusive and went into hiding” .

Chinyere reportedly came out of hiding when he felt operatives hunting for him may have channelled their energy to other cases.

He was trailed to Asaba, Delta state capital, where he was hiding.

Chinyere reportedly disclosed that he is a native of Obingwa area of Abia state and learned how to make locally made guns from one late Chinaka Nnawakwo, whom he said was killed by security operatives for gun-running.

He explained that he had already turned a new life before Evans was arrested, saying he warned him (Evans) to stop kidnapping but he would not listen.

“I learned how to make locally made guns from a village known as Abala and it was one chinaka Nnawakwo that thought me the job, “Chinyere was quoted as saying.

“I spent three years learning the job 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 and the single barrel was sold for N6,000, while the locally short guns were sold for N10,000.

“One of customers, Samuel Nwakpa, who was coming from the Kaduna state to buy guns from me, was the person who linked me to big arms dealers in Chad and Niger republic.

“They were the people who supplied me the five Ak-47 rifles I sold to Evans which he used for his bank robbery and kidnapping activities. I met Evans when he came to my village to treat his bullet wound and 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 in Chad.

“The rifles were concealed in bags of fish and I took my commissions and gave the rest of the money to Nwapka, who also supplied the rocket launchers to Evans.

“Before Evans was arrested, I have stopped doing the business and I and turned a new leaf, but 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 was still looking for me when I came out of hiding and I was arrested.

“I warned Evans to stop kidnapping when I turned a new leaf but he wouldn’t listen to me.”