Islamic cleric Ahmad Gumi has claimed that many kidnappers and armed groups operating in Nigeria adopted their methods from notorious kidnap kingpin Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike, widely known as Evans.
Gumi made the statement in a Facebook post on Friday while reacting to reports about the discovery of illegal weapon production sites in Vom, located in Jos South Local Government Area of Plateau State.
According to the cleric, Evans became famous for kidnapping wealthy people in Lagos and demanding huge ransom payments before his arrest in 2017. He suggested that many criminal groups later copied the same style of operation.
In his post, Gumi described Evans as one of the most well-known kidnappers in Nigeria’s history, saying his activities influenced other kidnappers across the country.
The cleric’s comment followed recent security operations carried out by troops of Operation Enduring Peace in Plateau State.
Security operatives reportedly uncovered illegal arms-making factories allegedly connected to suspected Berom militia members accused of producing weapons used in violent attacks and killings in some communities.
During the operation, security personnel were said to have recovered locally fabricated AK-47 rifles, empty magazines, unfinished gun parts, and other dangerous weapons.