The Edo State Government has assured residents that the perpetrators behind the recent abduction of a woman at a vegetable market in Benin City will be brought to justice, confirming that the state police command has already launched a full-scale investigation into the incident.

The security update was disclosed on Wednesday by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Patrick Ebojele, during a local radio programme. Ebojele noted that security operatives are working tirelessly around the clock to track down the armed gang behind the assault, which occurred on Sunday at the Vegetable Market area along Airport Road.

The swift operational deployment followed a direct security directive from Governor Monday Okpebholo, who condemned the market abduction as an unacceptable, brazen assault on law-abiding citizens. The governor instructed all relevant security agencies to coordinate effectively, locate the perpetrators, and ensure the safe rescue of the victim.

While reassuring the public of his administration’s zero-tolerance stance on violent crime, Okpebholo emphasized that the state government will deploy all available resources to safeguard public peace and hunt down elements threatening public safety. In a parallel address to religious leaders in the state capital, the governor also raised concerns over local intelligence indicating that some internal saboteurs are actively collaborating with outside armed gangs to facilitate kidnappings within the state.

He warned residents against shielding criminal suspects and urged communities to remain highly vigilant by promptly feeding intelligence to the police to aid ongoing operations.