YENAGOA, Nigeria — Security agencies in Bayelsa State on Thursday, July 24, 2025, paraded eight suspects in connection with the abduction of Federal High Court judge, Justice Ebiyerin Omukoro, revealing disturbing details of the Saturday, June 21, 2025 kidnapping that sent shockwaves through the state’s capital.
The suspects—six men and two women—were presented at a joint briefing by the Bayelsa State Commissioner of Police, Mr Francis Idu, and the State Director of the Department of State Services (DSS), Mr Adedapo Amao, in Yenagoa.
The Department of State Services is currently holding the suspects and reportedly led the rescue operation that secured Justice Omukoro’s release.
During the parade, one of the primary suspects, Justice Brodrick, identified himself as an indigene of Ozobo community in Delta State.
He admitted his role in the abduction, explaining that he was invited to Yenagoa by his superior—referred to only as “the General”—to participate in the operation.
Brodrick detailed how, upon arriving in Bayelsa with other members of the gang, they were given operational uniforms and vehicles before launching the kidnap.
He said the team had no specific target but stumbled upon the judge at a popular eatery in the Ekeki area of Yenagoa.
“We mobilised the vehicle for the movement and uniforms were provided,” he said.
“We moved from our camp, and it was not a fixed target. We were just patrolling before we met the Judge at Kilimanjaro. So we approached him and kidnapped him from there to our camp.”
According to Brodrick, once Justice Omukoro revealed that he was from Ekeremor Local Government Area and also of Ijaw ethnicity, the gang decided to treat him more humanely.
While “the General” insisted the victim remain in handcuffs, Brodrick claimed he opposed the idea.
Another suspect, who gave his name as John, said he was invited to join the operation but did not participate due to illness.
However, he admitted to being present at the kidnappers’ camp when the judge was brought in.
Governor Douye Diri had earlier confirmed during the State Executive Council meeting on Wednesday, July 23, 2025, that all suspects involved in the abduction had been apprehended, except for the gang leader who remains at large.
Commissioner of Police Francis Idu hailed the arrest as a testament to effective inter-agency collaboration under Governor Diri’s security governance framework.
He noted that a special team from DSS headquarters in Abuja was deployed to support the operation.
Idu also praised the state government for providing logistics support and highlighted the role of CCTV surveillance installed across the state in tracking the suspects.
“The success of this operation shows that Bayelsa is no longer a safe haven for criminals,” he said.
“Those nursing criminal intentions must think twice.”
The identities of the two female suspects were not disclosed, but security officials confirmed that they played active roles in the planning and execution of the abduction.
Justice Omukoro was rescued unharmed and has since reunited with his family.
Investigations are ongoing as security forces intensify efforts to apprehend the alleged gang leader still at large.
