Breaking: Police Arrest More Suspects In Vegetable Market Kidnapping

by MIKE OSAROGIAGBON

Operatives of the Edo State Police Command said they have arrested three additional suspects in connection with the kidnapping of a woman at the popular Vegetable Market along Airport Road, Benin City.

With the latest arrests, the number of suspects linked to the crime has risen to six. Investigators say the only person still on the run is a community CSO accused of supplying the guns used for the operation.

According to the police, the latest suspects are Gift Raphael, female, 27, Wisdom Michael, male, and Rufus Michael, male.

Gift Raphael is alleged to be the girlfriend of the principal suspect, Marvellous Isaac, and was responsible for supplying food to the gang and their victims while they were kept in the forest.

Police hinted that the suspects were apprehended during separate intelligence-led operations conducted in Benin City and parts of Delta State on June 20, 2026.

Recall that the Commissioner of Police in Edo State, CP Monday Agbonika, on June 18, 2026, paraded Marvellous Isaac, 32, before journalists and Governor Monday Okpebholo as a suspected member of the gang involved in the Vegetable Market kidnapping.

Another suspect, identified simply as Precious, was neutralised during a gun duel with operatives of the Intelligence Response Team (IRT).

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

Providing update on the ongoing manhunt, ASP Eno Ikoedem, the Command Public Relations Officer, today, said “the operatives on 20/6/2026 further arrested additional members of the organised crime syndicate, namely Gift Raphael, female, 27 years; who further led to the arrest of wisdom Michael, male; and Rufus Michael, male, during separate operations conducted within Benin City and parts of Delta State.

“And all suspects have made confessional statements linking them to the vegetable market incident and other criminal operations within the state”.

A dependable source at the police headquarters in Benin disclosed that investigations revealed the recovered Lexus SUV originally belonged to a kidnapping victim who had paid ransom but never recovered his vehicle.

According to the source, Marvellous Isaac, said to be an electrical wiring technician, allegedly changed the vehicle’s colour from ash to red and began using it as his personal car.

It was also gathered that security operatives traced the vehicle through registration details captured in video footage from the crime scene.

The original owner was subsequently located and he confirmed that the vehicle had been seized by his abductors.

The breakthrough eventually led to the arrest of Marvellous Isaac and the neutralisation of another gang member.

ASP Ikoedem appealed to members of the public to continue supporting the police with timely and credible information, adding that the Command can be reached through the following channels:

Emergency Control Room: 08077773721, 08037646272

Public Complaints Bureau (PCB): 08150999335

Complaints Response Unit (CRU): 08100389992