A serving judge of the Bayelsa State High Court, Justice E.G. Umokoro, was abducted by unknown gunmen on the evening of Saturday, June 21, 2025, in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital. The incident has sparked widespread concern across the state, already grappling with a recent surge in violent crimes.
According to eyewitness accounts, the abduction occurred around 7:00 p.m. in the Ekeki area of the city, directly in front of a popular eatery along the busy Chief Melford Okilo Expressway. Justice Umokoro, who currently presides over High Court 7 in the state, was reportedly ambushed while he was in his vehicle.
Eyewitnesses at the scene recounted that the attackers—four hooded gunmen dressed in black uniforms—attempted to shoot at the judge but narrowly missed. Undeterred, they used an unmarked white Hilux van to block his black Toyota Prado SUV, forcibly removed him from the vehicle, and bundled him into their own van before speeding away.
A video circulating online shows the moment of the abduction. In the footage, Justice Umokoro can be seen resisting as the assailants forcefully drag him toward their vehicle. Despite his struggle, the gunmen managed to overpower him and flee the scene, leaving his SUV behind.
Though the motive for the abduction remains unclear, the incident has exacerbated growing fears in the state, especially in the wake of a recent wave of violence, including deadly cult clashes and a series of armed robberies that have left several residents dead or injured in the past weeks.
Efforts to obtain an official response from the Bayelsa State Police Command have so far been unsuccessful. Multiple calls placed to the Command’s spokesperson, Musa Mohammed, went unanswered.
The abduction of a sitting High Court judge has heightened public anxiety and drawn sharp reactions from legal and civil society circles, with many calling for urgent intervention by security agencies to ensure Justice Umokoro’s safe release and restore public confidence in the state’s security architecture.