Suspected kidnappers involved in the abduction of Bayelsa State High Court Judge, Justice E.G. Umokoro, have given a chilling account of how they carried out the crime. The suspects—eight in total, comprising six men and two women—were paraded on Thursday in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the parade was conducted by the Bayelsa State Commissioner of Police, Francis Idu, in the presence of the Director of the Department of State Services (DSS), Adedapo Amao. The DSS coordinated the rescue mission that led to the successful release of the judge and the arrest of his captors.
According to authorities, all eight suspects are currently in DSS custody, with ongoing efforts to apprehend the fleeing gang leader, who remains at large.
Governor Douye Diri had earlier confirmed during the State Executive Council meeting held on Wednesday that all individuals responsible for the abduction had been identified and arrested. However, he clarified that the leader of the kidnapping syndicate was yet to be captured.
One of the suspects, identified as Justice Brodrick from Ozobo community in Delta State, gave an account of his involvement in the operation. Speaking to journalists, Brodrick confessed that he joined the kidnapping gang after being contacted by someone he referred to as his “boss.”
According to Brodrick, they were summoned to Yenagoa on June 21, where they were provided with uniforms and a vehicle to facilitate the operation. Upon arrival, the team, which included his younger brother Kelvin Olu and another suspect, John Uzi, began their patrol around the city. They had no specific target in mind.
“We were just patrolling around Yenagoa,” Brodrick explained. “Then we sighted the Judge at Kilimanjaro, a popular eatery in the Ekeki area. That was when we decided to strike. We abducted him right there and transported him to our camp in a neighbouring state.”
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He further revealed that it was only after the abduction that they discovered the victim was a fellow Ijaw man from Ekeremor Local Government Area in Bayelsa State. This, he claimed, influenced how they treated the judge while he was in captivity.
Brodrick said the group leader, known as “General,” had instructed that although the victim should remain in handcuffs, he must be treated with a certain degree of care out of respect for their shared ethnic background.
Another suspect, who identified himself only as John, claimed he did not participate in the actual abduction. According to him, he was contacted ahead of time but was unwell at the time of the operation. He admitted, however, that he was present at the gang’s camp when the kidnapped judge was brought in.
Bayelsa State Police Commissioner, Francis Idu, hailed the operation as a significant success, crediting it to the robust security framework championed by Governor Douye Diri. He emphasized that the governor had consistently pushed for synergy among security agencies, leading to greater efficiency in tackling crime across the state.
Commissioner Idu also disclosed that a special team from the DSS headquarters in Abuja had been deployed specifically for the rescue operation. Their efforts, he said, were instrumental in not only securing the judge’s release but also in apprehending the suspects—including the two women found to be accomplices.
He commended Governor Diri for providing critical logistical support that enabled the smooth execution of the rescue mission, reinforcing the administration’s commitment to maintaining law and order in Bayelsa State.