Paul Idehen, one of the victims of the kidnapping gang that recently struck at the vegetable market on Airport Road, Benin City, has narrated the harrowing ordeal he suffered in the hands of his abductors while in captivity.
Idehen spoke with DAILY POST during the parade of 32-year-old Marvelous Isaac, one of the suspects arrested in connection with the abduction of a woman at the vegetable market in Benin City.
The suspect was paraded by the Edo State Commissioner of Police, Monday Agbonika, at the command headquarters in Benin City.
Isaac was paraded alongside other suspects in the presence of Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo.
Idehen said he was kidnapped on Thursday, April 23, 2026, at his wife’s pharmacy shop opposite Ekehuan Army Barracks and was released on Tuesday, April 28, 2026.
He said the gunmen stormed the shop at about 9 p.m. when they were closing for the day.
The victim stated that the suspects fired gunshots in front of the pharmacy before abducting him in the presence of his wife and children.
“Immediately, I saw somebody wearing a red mask enter the shop, and I knew they were coming for me. One of them ordered me to come out of the shop, but something kept telling me to do something. I was looking for a way to escape, but then I remembered that my wife and children were with me.
“There was no way I could escape. I was delaying them. Then this suspect, who is being paraded now in connection with the vegetable market kidnapping incident, entered the shop and said, ‘Where are you? Come out,’” he said.
He said the paraded suspect was the one who put his hand in his trouser pocket, brought out his car key and immediately took possession of the vehicle.
Paul explained that the gang pushed him into the car, pinned him down at the back seat and held a knife to his neck, threatening to slit his throat if he misbehaved.
“In the presence of my wife and children, they abducted me from the shop and drove away with my vehicle that night.
“We walked and drove through the bush for a very long time. He was driving my car very roughly. We got to a place where we rested for some time. He told the boys that by 2 a.m., we would continue with the journey. So we waited there and at exactly 2 a.m., we entered the bush again.
“When we got to a particular spot, we waited there for about 30 minutes. It seemed he went to observe the area and ensure that nobody was around or coming.
“They took me to the back of a community. It was not even a thick forest. We stayed in that bush for five days. The guys tormented me and threatened to kill me if my people did not bring money.
“What baffled me most was that there was a woman among the kidnappers. She was very hostile to me,” he stated.
Idehen added that the female member of the gang was angry that the others were not beating him, but one of the kidnappers guarding him told her that he had been cooperating and had not given them any trouble to warrant such treatment.
Speaking further on his experience, Idehen said he was the only victim in the camp and that the kidnappers fed him.
He said that although they slapped him only four times, he was exposed to both the scorching sun and heavy rain throughout the five days he spent in captivity.
“On Saturday, there was heavy rain at night. I stayed in the rain until it stopped. The cold was extreme. I thought I would die. At a point, I felt they should just shoot me so I could rest and be free from them.
“But whenever I thought about my children and family, I would tell myself, ‘No. If I die now, the children will suffer,’” he said.
Speaking on the ransom demanded, he said that when he initially told them he had only N800,000 in his account, they became angry and slapped him.
He added that while they were tormenting him, he told them they could take his vehicle and also showed them his wedding ring.
According to him, the kidnappers insisted that they did not abduct him because of N800,000.
Paul said they took both his wedding ring and the vehicle from him as part of the ransom.
He said the kidnappers became even angrier and threatened to kill him when, on another occasion, he informed them that his family had only managed to raise N1.5 million.
“One of them said, ‘You and your wife are playing with us by saying you only have N1.5 million. Are you people mad?
“Do you think we kidnapped you because of N1.5 million? This money is too small. If you are not ready to pay us, we will waste you and go for another customer.
“The moment he said they should waste me, my heart skipped. I began to wonder if I was going to die. I was begging them that my people would find more money,” he added.
Idehen further explained that in order to persuade the kidnappers to spare his life, he offered them his gold wedding ring as part of the ransom payment.
He said he told them the ring could be sold for between N300,000 and N400,000, and they collected it.
Idehen disclosed that before his release, the kidnappers eventually collected a total ransom of N5.5 million, his wedding ring and his Lexus SUV.
