Stephen Onwuamadike, father of Chukwudi better known as kidnap baron, Evans, says he only sells pigs to survive.

The police arrested the billionaire kidnapper at one of his houses in Magodo, Lagos, over the weekend.

In an interview with New Telegraph, Onwuamadike said he was not aware that his son had acquired wealth through illegal means, adding that he didn’t benefit of proceeds of crime perpetrated by his son, blaming his former wife, mother of Evans, for the atrocities committed by his son.

He however appealed that his son be given a second chance.

“I’m suffering; I can barely put food on the table. I now survive by selling pigs… I heard about all the millions, and I said to myself, do I have such manner of rich son and the roof over my house is leaking,” he said.

“His mother started manipulating him when he was only three years old; look at where it has got him. I don’t even have his phone number.

“My son is a good boy, but his mother misled him. I was devastated when I heard the news through a telephone call; since that call, I had not been able to sleep. I believe in a straight forward and honest life.

“If I noticed someone is not honest, I run away from the person.”

Onwuamadike was a thriving millionaire in the early 80s and a member of the popular People’s Club of Nigeria, but says he lost control of Evans after his estranged wife ran away from her matrimonial home, leaving no trace.

“When my business was thriving, I did business with white people,” he said.

“I was one of the early millionaires that emerged from this town until things went wrong courtesy of my first wife in 1985. She caused me so many problems and eventually caused my financial ruins. In fact, she brought me down to where I am today.

“I did good business and it thrived; I was very successful. I have travelled to so many countries of the world in the course of my business.”

Evans stepbrother, Chidolie said: “As brothers, we don’t even interact at all. I don’t have his number and my heart is pained because he is such a loving, nice guy from the little I know of him.”