A CCTV footage circulating on social media shows how gunmen kidnapped a yet-to-be-identified woman at Vegetable Market, Benin City, Edo State, in broad daylight over the weekend.
The kidnappers can be seen arriving at the scene in a red car and parking beside a silver car, where their first target was.
The woman was also an occupant of the silver car.
As one of the suspects stepped out of the driver’s seat of the red car and approached the silver vehicle, a wheelbarrow pusher carrying what appeared to be fruits passed by, seemingly uncertain of the attack that was about to unfold.
The video shows that the driver of the red car was carrying a gun and was joined by two other men who also emerged from the car.
As they approached the silver vehicle, one of the gunmen fired at its front tyre, apparently to prevent the vehicle from escaping after it showed signs of movement.
The assailants then dragged a man from the driver’s seat of the silver car and attempted to force him into their vehicle. However, he managed to break free and flee the scene.
A woman who was inside the silver car also attempted to escape in the same direction, but the gunmen caught up with her, forced her into the waiting red car and sped away.
Reacting to a post shared on X about the kidnapping on Sunday night, Eno Ikoedem, the public relations officer of the Edo police Command, said Monday Agbonika, the Commissioner of Police, had ordered a discreet investigation into the abduction.
The police spokesperson noted that the incident occurred in the early hours of Saturday in the market area.
“The Command’s Anti-Kidnapping Unit and Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU) have already commenced efforts to unravel the circumstances surrounding the incident, rescue the victim, and apprehend those responsible,” the police statement reads in part.
The police urged members of the public to remain calm and provide any useful information that may aid the ongoing investigation.
Meanwhile, Monday Okpebholo, the state governor, has condemned the abduction and directed the police to investigate the matter.
“I strongly condemn this act of kidnapping, and I call on the Commissioner of Police to immediately open an investigation into the matter. As a government, we will not tolerate any act that threatens public safety and security or disturbs the peace of the state,” the governor was quoted in a statement issued on Monday.
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