Gunmen kidnap woman in Edo

A woman who went shopping on Sunday at the popular Vegetable Market off Airport Road in Benin City was reportedly abducted.

The woman was at the market with her husband and children when gunmen reportedly arrived at the scene and whisked her away.

In a video circulating online, a woman who claimed to have witnessed the incident described it as a kidnapping, saying:

“Today, for the first time, I witnessed someone being kidnapped.”

She continued:

“Who said kidnapping is not happening in Benin? A kidnapping happened in my presence right at the Vegetable Market on Airport Road. Just because it has not happened to you does not mean it doesn’t exist.

“I saved the woman’s children today. This is me. It happened right in front of me. We were both buying things at the same place, the Vegetable Market. I have bruises. Look at my legs.”

When contacted by our correspondent, the Edo State Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Eno Ikoedem, confirmed the incident.

She said, “I’m aware there was an abduction incident in that area earlier today, and we are already investigating the matter. The woman, her husband and their children had gone to the Vegetable Market to buy some items after church service when she was abducted.”

Asked what could have led to the abduction, Ikoedem said, “For now, we cannot release any information regarding that to the public as investigations are still ongoing. At the appropriate time, we will let the public know. The husband and other family members are cooperating with us in our investigation.”

Asked why she described the incident as an abduction rather than a kidnapping, the police spokesperson insisted that, “It is an abduction and not a kidnapping. Have the abductors contacted the family to demand a ransom? Or do you have any information that I do not have? If so, kindly share it with me.”