- Safiu Kehinde
The abducted Judge of the Bayelsa High Court, Justice Ebiyerin Omukoro, has narrated his ordeal at the kidnappers den after regaining his freedom.
Omukoro was kidnapped on June 21 by armed gunmen in front of an eatery in the Ekeki area of Yenagoa.
He was released on Thursday evening after 12 days in captivity.
Speaking after being debriefed at the Department of State Services (DSS) Command headquarters in Yenagoa, the rescued judge said he was grateful to everyone who participated in his rescue efforts, describing the last 12 days as “confusing”.
“I was confused in the kidnappers’ den. I still cannot come to terms with the fact that I was kidnapped and kept in the forest and exposed to cold. I thank God I was rescued alive.
“I can’t thank God enough; it will always be an unforgettable experience for me. I thank God I came out alive,” he said.
Meanwhile, the State Director of the DSS, Oluwatosin Ajayi and the State Commissioner of Police, Francis Idu, in their various remarks, said that the abducted judge was released unhurt without any ramsom payment.
Also, the President of the Customary Court of Appeal, Justice Daniel Ayah, said that the rescue of Omukoro was a collective effort between the security agencies, the Judiciary and the state government.
Ayah noted that the Chief Judge of the State was seriously disturbed by the incident, adding that three suspects have been arrested in connection with the crime, while three others were still at large, according to the police.
Similarly, the state Commissioner of Police, Idu, said that the joint efforts of the security agencies brought about the rescue of the abducted judge.