Eight suspected kidnappers of Bayelsa State High Court Judge Justice Ebiyerin Omukoro were paraded on Thursday, with some confessing to their roles in the abduction.
The suspects, comprising six males and two females, were presented to journalists by Bayelsa Commissioner of Police Francis Idu, with the Director of the Department of State Services, Adedapo Amao, also present in Yenagoa.
Governor Douye Diri had earlier announced during Wednesday’s state executive council meeting that all suspects involved in the judge’s abduction had been arrested, though the gang leader remained at large. The suspects are currently in DSS custody following the agency’s coordination of the victim’s rescue and the arrests.
One of the suspects, Justice Brodrick, an indigene of Ozobo community in Delta State, confessed to participating in the kidnapping. He revealed that a man he referred to as his boss recruited him for the operation.
“So, he called me on June 21 that I should come to Yenagoa. He also called John Uzi, the person who is beside me. And I called Kelvin Olu, my younger brother, to come with me to Bayelsa,” Brodrick narrated.
“We mobilised the vehicle for the movement, and uniforms were provided. We moved from our camp, but it wasn’t a fixed target. We were just patrolling before we met the Judge at Kilimanjaro. So we approached him and kidnapped him from there to our camp.”
Brodrick claimed the gang had no specific target but stumbled upon Justice Omukoro at an eatery in Yenagoa’s Ekeki area. Upon learning the judge was an Ijaw from Ekeremor Local Government, they decided to “treat him well,” though their leader, referred to as “General,” insisted on keeping him handcuffed.
Another suspect, John, admitted being contacted but said he did not join the operation due to illness. He was present at the camp when the victim was brought in.
Commissioner Idu attributed the successful arrests to Governor Diri’s security governance policies, which emphasized inter-agency collaboration. He revealed that a special DSS team from Abuja assisted in the operation, leading to the capture of the suspects, including the two female accomplices.
“The CCTV cameras installed by the government in certain parts of the state were useful throughout the rescue operation and the eventual arrest,” Idu stated, commending the governor for providing operational logistics.
The police chief issued a stern warning to criminals, declaring Bayelsa unsafe for illegal activities. The investigation continues as security agencies intensify efforts to apprehend the fleeing gang leader.
