Trial of kidnappers: Victims identify suspects, recount paying over N63m ransom

Victims of the now famous vegetable market kidnapping syndicate have recounted how their abductors collected over N63 million as ransom from them.

The victims also narrated how the suspects dispossessed them of other valuables worth several millions of naira.

DAILY POST reports that the victims narrated their ordeals in the hands of the kidnapping syndicate while testifying as witnesses in the ongoing trial of the suspects before the special court set up by the Edo State Government in Benin City.

Recall that suspected kidnappers abducted a woman at a popular vegetable market along Airport Road, Benin City, at about 10:15 a.m. on Sunday, June 14, 2026.

The arrest of one of the suspects and other alleged members of the criminal gang by a combined team of security operatives in the state prompted Governor Monday Okpebholo to set up a special criminal court to try cases related to kidnapping and cultism.

The suspects, Marvelous Isaac, 32, Wisdom Michael, 36, Rufus Emete Michael, 30, and Gift Raphael, 27, are being prosecuted by the Edo State Government and the Police.

They are standing trial on an 11-count charge bordering on alleged kidnapping, armed robbery, cultism and unlawful possession of firearms.

The prosecution, led by the Solicitor-General and Permanent Secretary, Edo State Ministry of Justice, Stephen Okoror, opened its case by calling five witnesses.

The accused persons all pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The first witness, Mrs Precious Oseghale, who was abducted at the vegetable market, told the court that the incident occurred at about 10:15 a.m. on the fateful day when she, her husband and children went to the market to purchase food items after church service.

According to her, shortly after making their purchases, a pepper-red Lexus RX 350 jeep blocked their vehicle.

“The armed men immediately shot at the tyre of our vehicle and ordered my husband to step out.

“The attackers, who were four in number and armed with a pump-action gun, attempted to abduct both of us, but my husband escaped.

“They dragged me into their vehicle after overpowering me and took me into the forest,” she said.

She added that as they were taking her away, the suspects picked up another lady whom she identified in court as Gift Raphael, one of the accused persons.

The witness told the court that she was eventually released on Wednesday morning after the payment of a ransom.

She further stated that her captors dispossessed her of jewellery, including a wristwatch, earrings and hand chains valued at over N15 million.

The victim’s husband, Mr Oseghale, who also testified before the court, corroborated his wife’s account of the incident.

The owner of the Lexus RX 350 jeep allegedly used by the accused persons to carry out their kidnapping operations, Mr Paul Idehen, also testified before the court.

He told the court that apart from the N5.5 million paid as ransom, the suspects also took away valuables worth several millions of naira, including his wedding ring and the vehicle.

Idehen recognised the accused persons as those who abducted him at his wife’s pharmacy store on April 23, 2026, opposite Ekehuan Army Barracks in Benin City.

He said his grey-coloured Lexus RX 350 jeep was repainted red, while its registration number was also changed.

He added that the suspects kept the vehicle for about one month and two weeks before it was eventually recovered after their arrest by security operatives.

Another witness recounted how he was kidnapped on May 26, 2026, at about 8:30 p.m. along Ekehuan Road near GTBank, Benin City, while returning from work.

He said members of his family paid N12.47 million as ransom for his release, in addition to N35,000 cash allegedly taken from his pocket by the suspects.

The witness stated that he was released on May 30, 2026, but alleged that the accused persons also stole his Tecno Spark 20 Pro+ phone and car keys.

An elderly woman who also testified alleged that she was kidnapped from her residence along Siluko Road, Benin City, on March 8, 2025.

She told the court that she paid N25 million to the suspects and another N5 million to a different kidnapping gang to whom she was allegedly handed over before she eventually regained her freedom.

At the trial, the victims all recognised the four accused persons as those who had abducted them at different times in Benin City.

The witnesses were cross-examined by Amechi Onwuzor, counsel to the accused persons.

After listening to the testimonies, Justice Aigbona Terry Momodu adjourned the case to Tuesday, July 21, 2026, for continuation of hearing.