Masked gunmen have abducted a High Court Judge, Justice Ebiyerin Omukoro in Yenagoa. The yet to be identified armed men kidnapped the Judge, a former NBA chairman on Saturday evening outside a popular eatery in the Ekeki area of the Bayelsa State capital.
Eyewitnesses said the judge was in the company of a relative when the suspected kidnappers struck at about 7pm. According to accounts, the attackers who were masked and dressed in black, intercepted the judge’s vehicle, forcefully pulled him out, and whisked him away in a separate car.
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The scene caused panic as passersby and nearby shop owners fled in fear of gunfire or further violence. The Bayelsa State Police Command, through its Police Public Relations Officer, Musa Mohammed, confirmed the incident and said it has deployed tactical teams and drones to trail and arrest the suspects.
The motive for the abduction remains unclear, and it is not known if the abductors have made any contact with the judge’s family or demanded ransom. Security operatives have reportedly been mobilised to comb the area and initiate a manhunt for the kidnappers. At the same time, the incident has sparked fresh concerns over the safety of residents amidst rising insecurity in Bayelsa State.
