Victims of the now-famous vegetable market kidnapping syndicate have recounted how their abductors collected over N63 million as ransom from them.
The victims also narrated how the suspects dispossessed them of other valuables worth several million naira.
DAILY POST reports that the victims narrated their ordeals in the hands of the kidnapping syndicate while testifying as witnesses in the ongoing trial of the suspects before the special court set up by the Edo State Government in Benin City.
Recall that suspected kidnappers abducted a woman at a popular vegetable market along Airport Road, Benin City, at about 10:15 a.m. on Sunday, June 14, 2026.
The arrest of one of the suspects and other alleged members of the criminal gang by a combined team of security operatives in the state prompted Governor Monday Okpebholo to set up a special criminal court to try cases related to kidnapping and cultism.
The suspects, Marvelous Isaac, 32, Wisdom Michael, 36, Rufus Emete Michael, 30, and Gift Raphael, 27, are being prosecuted by the Edo State Government and the police.
They are standing trial on an 11-count charge bordering on alleged kidnapping, armed robbery, cultism and unlawful possession of firearms.
The prosecution, led by the Solicitor-General and Permanent Secretary, Edo State Ministry of Justice, Stephen Okoror, opened its case by calling five witnesses.
The accused persons all pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The first witness, Mrs Precious Oseghale, who was abducted at the vegetable market, told the court that the incident occurred at about 10:15 a.m.
