- Justice Ebiyerin Omukoro, abducted in Yenagoa on June 21, released unharmed after 12 days.
- Security agencies confirm no ransom was paid; three suspects arrested, others at large.
- The judge describes ordeal as “unforgettable” and thanks God for safe return.
Justice Ebiyerin Omukoro of the Bayelsa High Court, who was kidnapped on June 21 in Yenagoa, has regained his freedom after 12 days in captivity.
The judge was abducted at an eatery in the Ekeki area of Yenagoa and released Thursday evening. He was subsequently debriefed at the State Security Service (SSS) headquarters in Yenagoa.
Director of the SSS in Bayelsa, Mr Oluwatosin Ajayi, and State Police Commissioner, Mr Francis Idu, confirmed that no ransom was paid for his release.
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Speaking to journalists, Justice Omukoro said, “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, exposed to cold. I thank God I was rescued alive. It will always be an unforgettable experience for me.”
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Justice Daniel Ayah, President of the Customary Court of Appeal, noted that the release was achieved through the collective efforts of security agencies, the Judiciary, and the Bayelsa State Government.
Police confirmed that three suspects have been arrested in connection with the abduction, while a manhunt is ongoing for three others still at large.
