June 23, 2025 by and Nwanosike Onu, Awka

Fresh facts have emerged on how gunmen at the weekend, abducted a State High Court Judge, Justice E.G. Umokoro, in Yenagoa, Bayelsa Capital.

Eyewitnesses said he was kidnapped in front of popular eatery along Chief Melford Okilo Expressway at about 7pm after a struggle.

It was learnt the Judge was in company of his two daughters to buy bread from the eatery before the attack.

The Nation gathered that he usually drives around town without designated security while off duty.

He was a one-time State Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association.

Justice Umokoro had also had a brush with the men of the Bayelsa Police Command over the release of some notorious kidnappers on alleged technical grounds.

Eyewitnesses said the abducted judge was trailed to the eatery by armed, dressed in full police combatant regalia with mask covering their faces.

Two of the men were seen coming down from a Nissan Hilux vehicle and tapping on the car glass of the car who wound down the car window.

One eyewitness said he overheard the men telling the Judge that “Our Oga wan to see you”, but the Judge answered them that “Are you aware I’m a judge? And tell your Oga to come and see me here.”

The two armed men were seen walking away from his vehicle and making some calls to an unknown person.

Three of the men returned and forcefully dragged him (Judge) out and into their vehicle.

He was eventually forced into the white Nissan Hilux vehicle with the struggle lasting over 50 minutes.

A staff of the eatery told reporters that the kidnapped Judge’s mobile phone and a pouch containing his identity cards, ATM cards and National ID cards, including two mobile phones of the kidnappers fell during the struggle.

Bayelsa State Police Command spokesman, Mohammed Musa, a superintendent, confirmed the incident, adding that investigation into the kidnap has begun.

In the same vein, the kidnapped Anambra State Director of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Mr Daniel Onyishi, has been released by his abductors.

The NDLEA state Director, was kidnapped by some gunmen in Awka on June 12, along the Winner’s Church road, Nnamdi Azikiwe University temporary site in the morning.

The Nation gathered that before he was freed, some millions of naira exchanged hands.

However, in a statement Sunday in Awka, the state Police command confirmed his release, adding that he was receiving medical attention.

The Police spokesperson, Tochukwu Ikenga, said his release was achieved through the collaboration of sister agencies and high powered covert operatives of NDLEA, led by Mrs Florence Ezeonye

He said the Commissioner of Police, Ikioye Orutugu, has briefed the Police High Command on the development and activated the IGP’s directive to ensure that the perpetrators are brought to book.

Insecurity has been on the rise in Anambra state despite the inauguration of Operation UDP Ga Achi and Agunechemba by the state government.