Justice E.G. Umokoro of the Bayelsa State High Court has regained freedom after spending 12 harrowing days in the custody of armed kidnappers.
Justice Umokoro, who presides over High Court 7 in Yenagoa, was abducted at gunpoint on June 21 while attempting to leave a popular eatery where he had gone to buy bread.
Eyewitnesses said the assailants, clad in black uniforms, confronted him at his vehicle and attempted to coerce him into their Hilux truck. When he resisted, they fired at him but missed before forcefully dragging him into their vehicle and speeding off.
The kidnappers had reportedly demanded the equivalent of N300 million in foreign currency for his release.
Bayelsa State Commissioner of Police, Francis Idu, and the State Director of the Department of State Services (DSS), Oluwatosin Adeola Ajayi, confirmed the judge’s release Thursday night in Yenagoa.
They maintained that no ransom was paid, attributing the success to the coordinated efforts of the police tactical team and operatives from Operation Puff Adder, led by CSP Chris Nwaogbo.
Justice Umokoro, visibly weak but relieved, recounted his ordeal while speaking to journalists. “I was confused in the kidnappers’ den. I still could not come to terms with the fact that I was kidnapped and kept in the forest, exposed to cold,” he said.
“The kidnappers even told me I should have fallen critically ill. But I kept praying, and I thank God I came out alive.”
According to security sources, some of the suspects involved in the abduction have been arrested, while others have been traced to Ekeremor, the judge’s hometown.
The President of the Bayelsa State Customary Court of Appeal, Justice Daniel Ayah, hailed the rescue as a result of the collective effort of the judiciary, security agencies, and the state government. He disclosed that three suspects had been apprehended, while others remained at large.
Also reacting, Bayelsa State Commissioner for Information, Ebiuwou Koku-Obiyai, expressed joy at the development, saying it vindicated the government’s commitment to security. “This rescue reaffirms that Bayelsa is not a haven for criminals,” she said.
The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Chairman in the state, Barr. Clement Kekemeke, commended the judiciary and lawyers for maintaining calm during the crisis, stating that their resilience helped sustain public confidence in the legal system.
Justice Umokoro’s abduction had triggered protests and court boycotts by legal practitioners in Bayelsa, highlighting growing insecurity concerns across Nigeria, particularly for members of the judiciary.
Security agencies have assured the public that efforts are ongoing to apprehend the remaining suspects and ensure justice is served.
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