The Edo State Police Command has broken a kidnap syndicate believed to be behind the abduction of a woman at the popular Vegetable Market off Airport Road in Benin City, killing one suspect in a gun battle and arresting four others.

The victim was seized in full public view while shopping with her husband and children. The brazen attack, captured on video and widely shared online, showed armed men forcing her into a waiting vehicle as traders and shoppers fled in panic. She was rescued by police operatives 48 hours later, reportedly unharmed.

Police spokesperson ASP Eno Ikoedem said the breakthrough followed a directive from the Commissioner of Police, CP Monday Agbonika, to track down the gang responsible for the high-profile abduction and other related crimes in the state.

Acting on intelligence, operatives of the Intelligence Response Team launched a coordinated operation that first targeted one of the alleged ringleaders, identified as 32-year-old Marvelous Isaac. According to the command, Isaac engaged officers in a gun duel during his arrest, while another suspect, known simply as Precious, was shot and killed in the exchange.

From that initial operation, investigators recovered a red Lexus RX 350 SUV with registration number EKP 848 AE, which the suspects allegedly confessed was used to whisk the victim away from the market. Officers also seized a pump-action shotgun, two live cartridges, a motorcycle and cash amounting to N2,050,000, believed to be part of the proceeds of kidnapping.

Further interrogation of Isaac led to the arrest of three more alleged members of the syndicate. They were named as 27-year-old female suspect Gift Raphael, and two men, Wisdom Michael and Rufus Michael, picked up in separate follow-up raids in Benin City and parts of neighbouring Delta State.

Police say all four arrested suspects have made confessional statements linking themselves not only to the Vegetable Market abduction but also to other kidnapping and robbery operations within Edo State.

CP Agbonika commended the officers involved for what he described as a professional and determined pursuit of the gang, and vowed that the command would sustain its offensive against organised criminal networks. He urged residents to remain vigilant and to provide timely, credible information to security agencies to help prevent further attacks.