‘I kidnapped my Chinese boss because he slashes salary’

Suspected Chinese Kidnappers

Detectives attached to the Lagos State Police Command, investigating the abduction of a Chinese National have arrested four members of his staff in connection with the foreigner’s kidnap and rescued the victim.

The rescue of the Chinese, Hang Kumming, working with GMC Construction Company, came just a day after the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Fatai Owoseni, bragged that they would soon get the kidnappers and rescue the Chinese.

The suspects, presenting in police custody are Taye Videgnonz, 28, a Beninese, Amos Loco, 26, Segun Oluwadare 32 and Adebowale Johnson 37.

Amos is the prime suspect. Speaking with journalists on Thursday, Amos confessed to have planned the kidnap. He even invited seven professional Ijaw kidnappers to kidnap his boss. He said that he planned the kidnap of the Chinese, ‘Because my boss is too wicked. He used to cut salary over any slightest provocation. I thought if we kidnapped him, we could get some money from him.”

Addressing journalists on Tuesday, Owoseni, said: “We have three key suspects in detention. I believe that very soon, we’ll rescue the Chinese. The abduction was masterminded by staff of his company.”

Hang Kumming, was abducted from his company at Igando Oloja Elemoro in Ajah.  The Chinese was kidnapped around 5am on Sunday and police rescued him on Wednesday.

The Chinese was kept captive in a tent built by the kidnappers, right inside a bush, at the back of his construction company.

The suspect started planning the abduction of Kumming for ransom last year, but jettisoned the idea over lack of logistics.

The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Dolapo Badmos, a Superintendent of Police, said: “They abandoned last year over logistics. They regrouped in March this year and invited Ijaw kidnappers. Amos Loco accommodated one of the kidnappers for two weeks. This particular kidnapper monitored the movement of the Chinese. When the Command received the information, our men moved in swiftly. We were able to locate where he was held. Some of the kidnappers escaped, but we were more concerned with the victim.  The kidnap happened around 5am and reported at Elemoro Police Station, Ajah. He was whisked away by armed men. The command moved in and rescued him yesterday (Wednesday)”

The kidnap plan was brought under the front burner this year. Amos said his brother, Michael, assisted him in hiring some professional Ijaw kidnappers from outside Lagos State.  

Amos said: “We treated our boss well after we kidnapped him. We fed him fried rice. My brother Michael used to buy the food for him. I was the one who gave information on his movement. He was about to leave when the kidnappers came to the office and kidnapped him. The kidnappers hadn’t even demanded for ransom before police came. After our plans failed last year, I continued my job as a driver. The plan was that as soon as I resume work by 5am on that Sunday, they would use advantage of the open gate to come in and pick up my boss. Our plan worked and we took him to a forest behind our house at Igando, Ibeju, Lekki.
"I was arrested after one Mr. Ken, who is a contractor with my company, called in the police and they arrested me as a suspect. It was during interrogation that I confessed to the police."

According to Amos, a few hours after his boss was kidnapped, policemen stormed the construction company and started investigation. He didn’t know how they did it, but they picked and two others. He said he cracked under the heat of interrogation.