A family trip to the vegetable market off Airport Road in Benin City turned into a nightmare on Sunday evening when gunmen stormed the area and kidnapped a woman after her husband fought them off and escaped.

The attack happened near the residence of former Foreign Affairs Minister, Chief Tom Ikimi. The woman was at the market with her husband and children when the gunmen arrived in what witnesses described as a commando-style operation.

The gunmen shot at two tyres of the family's vehicle where the husband was waiting. In a video obtained by our correspondent, a woman who said she witnessed the incident described it as a kidnapping.

"Today, for the first time, I experience kidnapping in my life," the witness said.

She said she fell while trying to save the woman's children. She showed a video of mud-stained clothes inside her car.

"I saved the woman's children today. This is me. It happened in front of me. We were both buying something in the same place, at the vegetable market. This is me, I have bruises. This is my legs."

CCTV footage appears to show one of the assailants alighting from a red vehicle and shooting at the tyres of a grey car. He then dragged the driver — believed to be the woman's husband — into their vehicle. The man struggled free and ran away, with the gunmen chasing him. Seconds later, they dragged the woman into their car and sped off.

The Edo State Police Public Relations Officer, Eno Ikoedem, confirmed the incident but said it was an abduction, not a kidnapping.

"I'm aware there was an abduction incident in that area earlier today and we are already investigating the matter. The woman, her children and husband went to Vegetable Market to buy some things after the close of service when they abducted her," Ikoedem said.

When asked what could have led to the abduction, Ikoedem said the police couldn't release further details while the investigation was ongoing.

"For now we cannot release any information regarding that to the public as investigation is still ongoing. But at the appropriate time we will let the public know. The husband, the family members are all cooperating with us in our investigation."

A radio message from the Command Office of the Edo State Security Corps (ESSC) alerted all formations that the suspected kidnappers were reportedly wearing ESSC uniforms. The message ordered personnel to stop and search all red vehicles, arrest any ESSC member in an unmarked vehicle, and detain any unfamiliar person in their area.

This incident adds to growing concerns about insecurity in Edo State, where kidnappings for ransom have become increasingly common in recent years. The vegetable market is a busy area on Airport Road, one of the main routes in Benin City.

  • Incident occurred on Sunday evening, June 14, 2026, at the vegetable market off Airport Road, Benin City
  • Victim is a woman whose husband escaped after a struggle with kidnappers
  • Gunmen arrived in a red vehicle, shot at tyres of the family's grey car
  • Suspected kidnappers reportedly wore ESSC uniforms
  • Police confirm the incident but call it an abduction, not a kidnapping
  • Investigation is ongoing with cooperation from the husband and family