Law enforcement detains multiple suspects, fatally wounds another in connection with abduction at Benin marketplace

The Edo State Police Command has announced the arrest of four suspects and the killing of one in connection with a kidnapping incident that occurred at the Vegetable Market in Benin on June 14, 2026, with the latest arrests bringing the total number of suspects in custody to four.

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A statement issued by the state Police Public Relations Officer, Eno Ikoedem, on Tuesday, revealed that three additional suspects were apprehended on June 20, in addition to the one earlier arrested.

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The statement provided an update on the investigation into the kidnapping incident, which took place at the Vegetable Market off Airport Road in Benin City on June 14, 2026, and was made possible by the directive of the Commissioner of Police, Monday Agbonika, and credible intelligence.

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Acting on this intelligence, operatives of the Intelligence Response Team (IRT), Edo, launched a coordinated operation that resulted in the arrest of Marvelous Isaac, a 32-year-old male, on June 18, 2026, during a gun duel, while another suspect, identified as Precious, was neutralized in the process.

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Items recovered from the suspects included a Lexus RX 350 SUV with registration number EKP 848 AE, one pump-action shotgun, two live cartridges, a cash sum of ₦2,050,000, and one motorcycle, which were confessed to have been used in the kidnapping operation.

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On June 20, 2026, operatives arrested additional members of the organized crime syndicate, including Gift Raphael, a 27-year-old female, who led to the arrest of Wisdom Michael and Rufus Michael during separate operations conducted within Benin City and parts of Delta State.

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All suspects have made confessional statements linking them to the incident and other criminal operations within the state, providing valuable information to the authorities.

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The Commissioner of Police commended the operatives for their professionalism, courage, promptness, and dedication in tracking down the criminal network, assuring residents of Edo State that the police would not stop until all criminal elements were brought to justice.

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The command urged members of the public to continue supporting the police with timely and credible information, while remaining vigilant and security conscious at all times, in order to maintain public safety.

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A woman who went shopping at the popular Vegetable Market off Airport Road in Benin City on June 14 was reportedly abducted, with her husband and children present at the scene when gunmen arrived and whisked her away.

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A video circulating online featured a woman who claimed to have witnessed the incident, describing it as a kidnapping and stating, "Today, for the first time, I witnessed someone being kidnapped."