Justice Ebiyerin Umukoro of the Bayelsa State High Court, who was abducted by gunmen on June 21, has regained his freedom after spending 12 harrowing days in captivity.
The judge was kidnapped in front of an eatery in the Ekeki area of Yenagoa, the state capital, and was released on Thursday evening following a coordinated rescue operation by security agencies. Officials have confirmed that no ransom was paid.
Shortly after his release, Justice Umukoro was taken to the Department of State Services (DSS) command headquarters in Yenagoa, where he was debriefed by operatives. Addressing journalists from the DSS premises, the visibly relieved judge described his ordeal as “confusing and unforgettable.”
“I was confused in the kidnappers’ den. I still cannot come to terms with the fact that I was kidnapped and kept in the forest and exposed to cold. I thank God I was rescued alive,” he said. “It will always be an unforgettable experience for me.”
The Bayelsa State Director of DSS, Mr. Oluwatosin Ajayi, and the State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Francis Idu, both confirmed that the judge was rescued unhurt and without the payment of ransom. They credited the success to the synergy between various security agencies.
President of the Customary Court of Appeal, Justice Daniel Ayah, speaking at the event, hailed the collaboration between the Judiciary, security operatives, and the state government, which he said made the rescue possible. He revealed that three suspects have already been arrested in connection with the abduction, while three others remain at large.
“The Chief Judge of the state was deeply disturbed by the incident,” Ayah said. “The security agencies worked round the clock, and we’re grateful for their efforts. This was truly a collective response.”
Commissioner of Police Idu also commended the joint operation that led to the release, saying investigations are ongoing to apprehend the remaining suspects and bring them to justice.
The abduction had sparked outrage within legal and civil society circles, raising concerns about the safety of judicial officers and the growing spate of insecurity in the Niger Delta region.