After spending 12 harrowing days in captivity, Justice Ebiyerin Omukoro of the Bayelsa State High Court has regained his freedom, according to reports from Yenagoa, the state capital.
Omukoro, described as one of the more outspoken judges in the state’s judiciary and a former activist and Chairman of the Yenagoa branch of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, was abducted by a group of masked gunmen on the evening of Saturday, June 21, 2025.
The incident occurred at Kilimanjaro Eatery, opposite Ekeki Park, shortly after Omukoro returned from a trip to Warri, Delta State.
Eyewitnesses say the judge was confronted by the armed men and forced into their vehicle after a brief struggle. Many bystanders initially mistook the abduction for a security operation. A military officer who was at the scene reportedly refrained from intervening due to the overwhelming number of armed assailants.
READ ALSO:NBA gives hopes on freedom of Bayelsa judge
The abduction prompted members of the judiciary to embark on a strike, demanding swift action from security agencies.
On Thursday, news broke that Justice Omukoro had been released, though the circumstances surrounding his freedom remain unclear. Neither the NBA nor security agencies have issued official statements detailing the negotiations or operations that led to his release.
The NBA had earlier expressed confidence in the efforts of security operatives, stating that authorities were tracking the abductors’ location but proceeding with caution to avoid jeopardizing the judge’s safety.
WHIRLNEWS
