Suspected kidnappers have abducted Justice E.G. Umokoro, a serving judge of the Bayelsa State High Court, in Yenagoa, the state capital. The incident reportedly occurred around 7 p.m. on Saturday near a well-known eatery in the Ekeki area, along the Chief Melford Okilo Expressway.
According to eyewitness accounts, the gunmen—clad in black—ambushed the judge in front of the restaurant, intercepted his vehicle, and forcibly took him away. His car was abandoned at the scene. Witnesses also claimed that the assailants fired shots at the judge but missed, and a video currently circulating online shows the victim struggling with his captors during the abduction.
Confirming the attack, Bayelsa State Police Public Relations Officer, Musa Mohammed, told *TheCable* on Sunday that the police command has deployed tactical units and drones to locate and rescue the judge. Surveillance footage from the area is also being analyzed as part of the ongoing investigation.
“Yes, the command has deployed tactical teams as well as drones to pursue the hoodlums and ensure the possible release of the victim,” Mohammed stated.
He also refuted social media claims that the kidnappers wore police uniforms. “If someone wears black, that doesn’t automatically make it a police uniform. What identifies a police officer are the official accoutrements. These hoodlums were not dressed in police gear,” he clarified.
Who is Justice E.G. Umokoro?
Justice E.G. Umokoro is a prominent figure in the Bayelsa judiciary. A former chairman of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) Yenagoa branch, he is known for presiding over high-profile and sensitive cases within the state.
In 2021, he handed down a 10-year sentence to a man convicted of raping and murdering a five-year-old girl in Akede community, Sagbama Local Government Area. He has also overseen several election-related cases, making him a respected but potentially targeted figure in the legal community.
