By Simeon OSAJIE
Investigation into the June 14, 2026 kidnapping at the popular Vegetable Market on Airport Road, Benin City, Edo State capital, is taking another dimension following alleged confession by one of the arrested suspects, Marvelous Isaac, that the guns used by his gang were rented from a community security chief in the state..
According to SaharaReporters newspaper, the 32-year-old suspect who was arrested by operatives of Edo State Police Command, reportedly told investigators that the weapons used in the abduction of a woman at Vegetable Market, Benin City, were obtained from the Chief Security Officer of Oredo Community, simply identified as Liberty.
A CCTV footage that went viral had shown how the four-member gang stormed the area and abducted a woman in a brazen operation that has since sparked outrage and raised serious questions about the supply of weapons to criminal groups.
Marvelous Isaac, who said he is from Akwa Ibom State but resides along Ekenhuan Road in Benin City, was arrested after intelligence operatives tracked down the gang members.
According to the State Commissioner of Police, Monday Agbonika, operatives of the Intelligence Response Team moved in after receiving credible intelligence linked to the abduction.
During the operation, security operatives reportedly recovered the sum of N2.25 million believed to be proceeds of crime, an RX 350 Lexus SUV allegedly used by the suspects, a pump-action shotgun, two live cartridges, and a motorcycle.
In interrogation videos said to have been obtained by SaharaReporters, Isaac allegedly confessed that the victim’s family paid N8 million ransom before the woman was released. He further claimed that his personal share from the operation was N1.5 million.
The most explosive part of his confession was his claim about the source of the gang’s weapons. When asked where the firearms came from, Isaac reportedly said it was another gang member, identified as Precious, who contacted the owner of the guns.
According to the suspect, the gun owner was Liberty, the Chief Security Officer of an Oredo Community, and he allegedly collected N1.5 million for the weapons.
Isaac also claimed that Precious told him that Liberty had many guns and that the community security chief allegedly rented guns to other people as well.
The suspect further disclosed that four gang members carried out the kidnapping operation, namely, himself, Precious, Wisdom, and another member allegedly brought in from Delta State.
According to one of the videos, the kidnappers reportedly drove to the market in broad daylight and attacked the SUV parked along the market road. They allegedly shot at the front tyre of the vehicle, dragged a man from the driver’s seat, and attempted to force him into their own get-away car. The man however managed to escape.
The woman inside the victim’s car also attempted to flee, but the kidnappers allegedly chased her down, caught her, and forced her into their vehicle before speeding away from the scene.
Police say another member of the gang, identified simply as Precious, was later killed during a gun battle with security operatives.
The case has generated fresh concern over the role of insider enablers, the circulation of firearms, and the growing boldness of kidnapping gangs operating in urban areas.
The State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, while reacting to the breakthrough, commended the police and other security agencies for what he described as a swift response.
Okpebholo also assured residents that his administration would continue to intensify efforts against kidnapping and cult-related violence across the state.