by Alexander O. Onukwue

We are not sure, but Evans the notorious billionaire kidnapper may have been found because of Davido’s hit single, If.

The song has been rocking the airwaves for months now and can be heard on the lips of very many young persons, from adults even (maybe unfortunately) school children. A conspicuous line in the chorus “30 Billion for the account” (pronounced ‘akant’) is arguably the most sung verse in the song. Not everyone has taken to the boast about such obviously outrageous amount of money in music to demonstrate success, as Nollywood veteran, Patrick Doyle, recently voiced his opinion.

But did it inspire the Nigerian Police to place a N30m bounty on Evans the kidnapper?

It would be recalled that on May 16, the Nigeria Police had made the offer to any person who would come forward with information on the dreaded kidnapper. This followed the whistle-blowing wave that had been introduced by the Federal Government in encouraging citizens towards being engaged in the anti-corruption fight. A sprinkle of reports has been made so far to the anti-corruption body, notably the NIA’s stash at the Ikoyi residence.

Evans was nabbed on June 10, 2017, in his bedroom in the Magodo area of Lagos. The arrest came after many of his accomplices had been rounded up from different locations about two weeks before. According to accounts that were familiar with the process, the arrest of Evans’ gang members had come after the miraculous escape of a wealthy owner of a pharmaceutical company in the Ilupeju area of Lagos, named as Donatus Dunu who had been abducted on February 14, 2017.

Donatus would later proceed, after his escape, to security agents who moved to uncover the various ports and docks of the multi-level supply chain of Evans kidnapping enterprise that eventually led to his bedroom.

Following the account above, it is not a case of a tip-off from a particular observing citizen, who was motivated to get the N30 million in the account. So, maybe Davido’s song did not play a role after all. Would have been nice if it did.

Editor