Suspected kidnappers of Justice Ebiyerin Omukoro, a judge of the Bayelsa High Court, have confessed to the crime, providing graphic details of how the abduction was carried out. The eight suspects; six men and two women, were paraded on Thursday in Yenagoa by the Bayelsa State Commissioner of Police, Francis Idu, alongside the Director of the Department of State Services (DSS), Adedapo Amao.
The suspects are currently in the custody of the DSS, which coordinated both the rescue of the judge and the apprehension of the suspects. Governor Douye Diri, during the State Executive Council meeting on Wednesday, confirmed the arrest of all those involved in the abduction, although the kingpin, known as “General,” is still on the run.
One of the suspects, Justice Brodrick, a native of Ozobo community in Delta State, confessed during the parade that he participated in the operation after being invited by his “boss.” Brodrick detailed how they were mobilized with uniforms and vehicles in Yenagoa before proceeding to abduct the judge from the premises of a popular eatery in the Ekeki area of the state capital. According to him, the kidnapping was not premeditated, as they did not have a specific target but stumbled upon Justice Omukoro by chance.
The judge was immediately transported to a hideout in a neighbouring state, where the gang kept him in handcuffs but claimed to have treated him “well” upon learning he was an Ijaw man from Ekeremor Local Government Area. Brodrick explained that their leader, General, gave the directive that the judge be handled with some level of respect, even though he remained in captivity.
“We didn’t have a fixed target. We were patrolling around Kilimanjaro when we spotted him and decided to strike. After the abduction, we moved him to our camp,” Brodrick revealed.
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Another suspect, identified as John, claimed he did not participate in the kidnapping because he was ill, although he admitted to being at the camp when the judge was brought in.
Commissioner of Police Francis Idu praised the collaborative efforts of security agencies, especially the DSS, which deployed a special team from Abuja to execute the successful operation. He also commended Governor Diri for his unwavering commitment to security, stating that the state’s investment in surveillance infrastructure, particularly CCTV installations across strategic locations, played a crucial role in tracking the suspects.
“The success of this operation is a testament to the strength of Governor Diri’s security governance model. Bayelsa is no longer a safe haven for criminals,” Idu said firmly.
The dramatic confession and swift arrests come as a stern warning to criminal elements operating in the state. Authorities have vowed to pursue the gang leader still at large and bring him to justice. As investigations continue, the government has assured the public that all measures are in place to maintain peace and protect residents from similar attacks.
