Justice Ebiyerin Omukoro, a sitting judge of the Bayelsa State High Court, has been freed after spending 12 harrowing days in captivity.
He was abducted on the evening of Saturday, June 21, 2025, by masked assailants at Kilimanjaro Eatery in Yenagoa, the state capital, not far from a police station, shortly after returning from a trip to Warri in Delta State.
His release, confirmed on Thursday, marks the end of nearly two weeks of anxiety for the legal community and the people of Bayelsa. Though the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and relevant security agencies have yet to issue official statements, Justice Omukoro himself spoke briefly after his release, describing the experience as a terrifying ordeal that left him emotionally and physically shaken.
“I was beginning to give up. I felt like this nightmare was refusing to come to an end. I still couldn’t come to terms with the fact that I had been abducted, kidnapped, kept in the jungle by hoodlums masquerading as security men. But we thank God… God was always there for me,” he said, visibly emotional.
He extended his appreciation to the security agencies, the judiciary, and his family and colleagues, noting that the collaboration between the government, the Bar, and the Bench played a critical role in ensuring his safe return. He described the day of his release as “unforgettable” and a testament to the power of collective effort in the face of injustice.
Before his release, the Yenagoa branch of the Nigerian Bar Association had disclosed that security operatives were making headway in tracing the judge’s captors using digital tracking tools.
Despite the technical progress, there had been no direct contact with the kidnappers throughout the ordeal. The circumstances surrounding how Justice Omukoro regained his freedom remain unclear, with details on whether a ransom was paid or arrests made still unavailable.
The incident had sent shockwaves through the legal and civil communities in Bayelsa. On the heels of the abduction, the NBA declared a boycott of all court activities across the state, labeling the crime an “attack on the judiciary.” The association raised alarm over the growing threat to the lives of judicial officers, urging authorities to take concrete steps to safeguard the independence and safety of the judiciary.
Witnesses at the scene of the abduction initially mistook the masked gunmen for operatives involved in an official security operation. This misinterpretation, along with the proximity of the crime scene to a police station, has further raised questions about the state of public safety and law enforcement visibility in the capital city.
Justice Omukoro’s release brings some relief, but the circumstances of his abduction—and the broader insecurity it represents—remain a cause for concern within legal and civic circles. Calls for stronger protections for members of the judiciary are expected to intensify in the coming days.
What you should know
Justice Ebiyerin Omukoro was kidnapped in Yenagoa on June 21, 2025, by masked men near a police station. His 12-day ordeal in captivity ended with his release on Thursday.
Though safe, the incident has reignited debate over the security of judicial officers and the capacity of law enforcement to respond effectively to rising threats in the region.
