Kidnapping horror in Edo:Woman, fellow kidnappers caught by CCTV to die

By Ozioruva Aliu WHEN Governor Monday Okpebholo was sworn-in on November 12, 2024, he was said to have confided in a close aide that there were two things he detested and would not allow them fester in Edo State: Thugerry and cultism. Closely related to this was kidnapping and other violent crimes. To show that he was prepared to check these challenges, Okpebholo approached the state House of Assembly to strengthen the anti-cultism and anti-kidnapping laws which now provide that any building linked to kidnapping and cultism would be demolished while convicted kidnappers would face the death penalty.

To make justice seamless and devoid of bureaucratic encumbrances, the governor approached the Chief Judge of the state to dedicate a court to the two issues of kidnapping and cultism. The test of the resolve of the governor against kidnappers and cultism happened on the morning of Sunday, June 14, 2026 when, in broad daylight at the popular Vegetable Market off Airport Road, dare-devil kidnappers, operating in a pepper red Lexus Jeep, alighted from their vehicle, shot the tyres of a parked Toyota Highlander to kidnap the occupant.

The owner of the vehicle escaped but his wife was not lucky as the kidnappers went away with her. The video of the incident went viral on social media courtesy of a CCTV in a building opposite the area where the incident happened. With marching orders from Okpebholo and the Inspector General of Police, four suspects, including a female, were arrested a few days after in connection with the incident and they became the first test of the courts dedicated to kidnapping and cultism.

Barely four months after the investigation and prosecution started, the four suspects, namely, Marvelous Isaac, Wisdom Michael, Rufus Emete Michael and Gift Rachael, the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th Defendants, were found guilty of the Vegetable Market kidnap and three others in different parts of the state and capital and also being members of a secret cult, and sentenced to death by hanging or by lethal injection.

The charge sheet was marked CD/S/06C/2026 between the state and four Defendants. The judgment was delivered on September 29, 2026 by Justice A. T. Momodu. It took Momodu over three hours, 30 minutes to deliver his judgment during which he attributed the success recorded by the prosecution to the CCTV in the opposite building and advised that there should be a deliberate effort to install them in business areas, public and even homes.

He said the prosecution called seven witnesses while seven exhibits tendered in the trial of kidnapping, armed robbery, illegal possession of firearms, conspiracy, and membership of a secret cult among others. “I wish to place on record my profound appreciation to the private citizen whose CCTV captured the scene of the Vegetable Market kidnapping incident”, the trial judge said.

“That singular act of installing CCTV in his premises provided evidence which assisted the police in the detection and proof of the crime that took place at the Vegetable Market, I commend him. “In this age where crime has become sophisticated, I encourage all residents of Edo State to endeavour to acquire and install CCTV cameras in their homes, shops, vehicles and business premises”.

One of the highlights of the case was that the kidnappers demanded N130 million ransom from their victims’ families but got about N60 million before they met their waterloo. Evidence The prosecution said it was the June 14 footage of a video captured by a close circuit camera that went viral on the social media that captured the precise moment of the abduction at the Vegetable Market.

It said the police deployed their tactical intelligence and arrested the 1st defendant on June 17 and he led detectives to their criminal hideout beside Awuze Hotel and Bar off Ekehuan Road, Benin City, where one Precious exchanged gunfire with the police. Precious was reportedly arrested with gunshot injuries and later died at the Police Hospital Benin-City.

He was said to be the Chief Security Officer of his community. The 2nd Defendant, 3rd Defendant and 4th Defendant were arrested on June 20 at different locations in Edo and Delta states. Justice Momodu said when information got to the members of the public that the suspected persons who carried out the kidnap at the Vegetable Market had been arrested, persons who claimed to have fallen victim surfaced at the police station.

According to him, the 1st Prosecution Witness, who was the female victim kidnapped at the Vegetable Market, testified that she knew all the offenders. She said that on their way to the forest, they picked up a lady who joined them in the vehicle whom she positively identified as the 4th Defendant. The victim said her eyes were blindfolded and was later released on Wednesday morning.

“The kidnappers, whilst armed with guns, took her watch, earrings and hand chain worth over N15 million”, the judge said. “Under cross examination, the PW1 testified amongst others that