A woman was reportedly abducted by suspected gunmen on Sunday at the popular Vegetable Market along Airport Road in Benin City, Edo State.
According to reports, the victim had visited the market with her husband and children after attending church service when the assailants arrived and forcefully whisked her away.
A witness who claimed to have been at the scene narrated the incident in a video circulating on social media. She said the abduction occurred in her presence and described the experience as shocking.
“Today, for the first time, I witnessed someone being abducted. It happened right at the Vegetable Market on Airport Road. Just because it has not happened to you does not mean it does not exist,” the witness said.
She added that she helped protect the victim’s children during the incident and sustained minor injuries in the process.
Confirming the development, the Edo State Police Command spokesperson, CSP Eno Ikoedem, said the police were aware of the incident and had commenced an investigation.
“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,” she said.
Ikoedem declined to disclose details regarding the possible motive behind the incident, noting that investigations were ongoing.
She also clarified why the police described the incident as an abduction rather than a kidnapping, stating that there was no information yet indicating that the perpetrators had contacted the family or demanded a ransom.
The police spokesperson added that the victim’s husband and other family members were cooperating with investigators as efforts continue to uncover the circumstances surrounding the incident and secure the woman’s safe return.
Credit:The Punch
