A court in Edo State has sentenced four persons, including a woman, to death after finding them guilty of kidnapping, armed robbery and other offences linked to a series of violent abductions across the state.
The defendants were identified as Marvelous Isaac, Wisdom Michael, Rufus Emete Michael and Gift Rachael.
According to a report by Vanguard published on November 1, 2026, the judgment was delivered on September 29, 2026, by Justice A. T. Momodu in a case marked CD/S/06C/2026.
The convictions followed a prosecution that relied on the testimony of victims, police evidence and other exhibits, including CCTV footage that captured one of the kidnappings.
The court reportedly sentenced the four defendants to death by hanging or lethal injection.
Broad-Daylight Kidnapping Captured on CCTV
One of the incidents central to the prosecution occurred on June 14, 2026, at the Vegetable Market area off Airport Road in Benin City.
According to the account presented in court, the kidnappers arrived in a red Lexus Jeep, approached a parked Toyota Highlander and shot its tyres before attempting to seize the occupant.
The vehicle’s owner managed to escape, but his wife was abducted.
The incident was captured by a CCTV camera installed in a building opposite the scene. The footage subsequently circulated on social media and became a significant investigative lead.
Four suspects, including Gift Rachael, were arrested following police investigations into the incident.
During the judgment, Justice Momodu reportedly commended the private individual whose surveillance camera recorded the kidnapping, noting that the footage assisted the police in detecting and proving the crime.
The judge encouraged residents to install CCTV cameras in their homes, shops, vehicles and business premises as part of efforts to strengthen crime prevention and investigation.
Victims Recount Multiple Abductions and Ransom Payments
The prosecution’s case reportedly extended beyond the Vegetable Market incident, with witnesses describing other kidnappings allegedly linked to the defendants.
One victim testified that she was abducted, blindfolded and taken away in the gang’s vehicle. She reportedly identified the defendants and described how her valuables, including a wristwatch, earrings and hand chain valued at more than ₦15 million, were taken.
Another witness testified that he was kidnapped from his wife’s shop and held in the bush for five days. His family reportedly negotiated and paid ₦5.5 million before his release, while the kidnappers retained his Lexus vehicle.
A further victim described being abducted along Ekehuan Road in Benin City and taken to a forest, where the gang demanded ₦100 million. His family reportedly paid ₦12.47 million before he was released.
Another prosecution witness recounted being held captive for several days and said her family paid a total of ₦30 million in two separate ransom payments before she was released.
Vanguard reported that the gang demanded a combined ransom of approximately ₦130 million from victims’ families and received about ₦60 million before the arrests.
Court Highlights Importance of Digital Evidence
The case demonstrates how privately installed surveillance systems can contribute to criminal investigations and the prosecution of serious offences.
The CCTV footage provided investigators with visual evidence of the kidnapping at the Vegetable Market, while witness testimony and other exhibits helped establish the prosecution’s case.
The judgment also brings renewed attention to the importance of preserving digital evidence, maintaining functional surveillance systems and ensuring that investigative agencies have the technical capacity to retrieve and analyse relevant footage.
For residents and business owners, the case offers a practical reminder that surveillance infrastructure can serve a purpose beyond property protection: it can help establish the sequence of events surrounding a crime and support the pursuit of justice.
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