A Twitter hashtag seeking mercy for arrested kidnap kingpin, Chukwudubem Onwuamadike, alias Evans, has sparked outrage from Nigerians.
#FreeEvans has been condemned by many on Twitter, but surprisingly, most of the tweets on the hashtag have been from its attackers.
It then begs the question – who are the sponsors/champions of #FreeEvans?
A history of the hashtag shows that one of the earliest tweets was by a user known as Diran (@Diranaire).
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He, basically, predicted the coming of #FreeEvans on June 11, after the kingpin was arrested.
#FreeEvans #JusticeForEvans or igbos r bn victimized in coming, wait for it cos that’s how deeply some Nigerians are delution & brainwashed
— Diran. (@Diranaire) June 11, 2017
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Four days later, a tweet by Boda Majidi (@justemdee) surfaced, also using the hashtag. Majidi’s tweet which came Friday afternoon was in reaction to the acquittal of senate president Bukola Saraki by the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) on corruption charges.
Now dt @BukolaSaraki is DISCHARGED & declared “INNOCENT” We shld expect Evans, d KIDNAPPER, 2b DISCHARGED too. Pls #FREEEvans ???? — Bọ̀dá Màjídì (@justemdee) June 16, 2017
The other Twitter user that appeared to champion the hashtag was @CarxSan, who tweeted:
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Do you have to resort to insults? #FreeEvans
— ???? (@CarxSan) June 17, 2017
By Saturday morning, some Twitter users came across the hashtag, and all hell broke loose.
Everybody partaking in #freeevans may kidnappers locate you.. Ya’l are mad Evans destroyed families in Festac.. My goodness. — KinG NomSo???????? (@ani_nomso) June 17, 2017
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Blocking anyone campaigning for this #FreeEvans rubbish… God forbid. — Uche Daniel (@UcheDandyMUFC) June 17, 2017
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Seeing #FreeEvans on my TL says a whole lot abt this generation…. Reasons y we can never be tomorrow’s leaders…. Mad peeps ???????????????? — Anfield Bloodline (@Adessy09) June 17, 2017
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#freeevans To forgive the kidnapper is up to God, but to send Evans to see God is our duty as a law in Nigeria. — MusaJosef (@jowizee) June 17, 2017
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If the #FreeEvans hashtag is not about Johnny Evans failed move to Arsenal then whoever supports this trend should be arrested. — Al Anietie (@Beanchesterr) June 17, 2017
To all of you advocating for #FreeEvans, just know Kidnappers will soon visit you and your family won’t be able to afford the ransom ???????? pic.twitter.com/zpQMmRfjUx — Tunde ⚓ (@Tunnyking) June 17, 2017
If you collected money to trend #FreeEvans, may the fleas of 1000 camels attack your groin & may your hands be too short to reach & scratch. — Igala_Alan_Shore (@i_am_Anomeli) June 17, 2017
The originator of #FreeEvans needs Deliverance. He needs to understand that crime has no clan. https://t.co/g8joJMu7Oc
— Thompson (@AdisaAladejobi) June 17, 2017
#FreeEvans ???
Now I see my nation is “bereft & bankrupt”.
My mind says #flee. #Evans— Tobiloba kolawole (@TKsChronicles) June 17, 2017
Despite the hullabaloo about the hashtag, the opponents, it appears, by far outnumber the proponents.
The people that disagree with #FreeEvans made it trend. Yet to actually see folks tweeting in support on my own TL
— Ayobami (@dondekojo) June 17, 2017
Truly, not many appear to be fighting back — but its existence alone was enough to irk Nigerians who deem it a touchy matter.
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