Dansuki Galadanchi, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Administration, in the Lagos State Command, has denied reports of the release of Emeka, the man alleged to have sold out his employer, Donatus Duru, to Evans and his kidnap gang.

Galandachi told journalists that Emeka was never in police custody, as he was charged to court immediately after his arrest and was remanded in prison afterwards.

Duru, a pharmacist, had escaped from Evans’ detention camp at New Igando in Lagos, and after his statement to the police, Emeka was arrested.

But he appeared on AIT’s focus Nigeria on Friday where, among other things, he confirmed that Emeka has been released.

The police DCP said: “It came as a surprise to the police, when a television station reported that the suspect escaped from our custody.

“Emeka was never in our custody. We charged him to court immediately we arrested him.”

Meanwhile another gang member of Evans’, a serving lance corporal in the Nigerian army, was arrested on Friday.

The soldier, Victor Chukwunonso, belongs to the Nigeria Army Band Corps, Abatti Barracks, Surulere, Lagos State. He hails from Onitsha, Anambra State.

According to the police, the newly arrested suspect confessed to having participated in kidnap operations with Evans and had collected a total of N6.5 million from the three operations he took part in.

The police added that the manhunt for the other fleeing members of the gang is still ongoing.