Former Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, has compared financiers of terrorist groups and criminal networks to convicted kidnap kingpin Evans, arguing that those who fund violent crimes often remain hidden in comfort while others carry out the attacks.
Fayose made the remarks during an interview on Channels Television, on Monday, 1 June, 2026 while discussing insecurity in Nigeria and the need for authorities to focus not only on armed criminals in the field but also on those who provide financial support for their operations.
Drawing a parallel with the case of notorious kidnapper Evans, whose real name is Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike, the former governor said security agencies must pay closer attention to the sponsors and financiers behind acts of terrorism and banditry across the country.
According to Fayose, “Evans was picked in Magodo Lagos. He lives in affluence in town, he was the financier, but the boys in the bush were the ones doing the evil.”
He argued that the statement reflects a pattern often seen in criminal enterprises, where those who plan and fund operations are far removed from the violence carried out by foot soldiers. Fayose suggested that a similar structure could exist within terrorist organisations such as Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), where financiers may not directly participate in attacks but play a critical role in sustaining them.
The former governor stressed that dismantling criminal and terrorist networks requires identifying and prosecuting individuals who provide resources, logistics, and financial backing. He maintained that targeting only the operatives involved in attacks may not be sufficient to end insecurity….See More
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