Bayelsa High Court Judge Regains Freedom After 12-Day Abduction

Justice Ebiyerin Omukoro, a serving judge of the Bayelsa State High Court, has regained his freedom after spending 12 days in captivity.

Justice Omukoro was abducted on the evening of Saturday, June 21, 2025, at Kilimanjaro Eatery, located opposite Ekeki Park in Yenagoa. The incident occurred shortly after he returned from a trip to Warri, Delta State.

Although he was released on Thursday, details surrounding the circumstances of his freedom remain unclear at the time of filing this report. Neither security agencies nor the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) have issued an official statement.

Prior to his release, the Yenagoa Branch of the NBA had announced that security operatives had made significant progress in tracing the kidnappers through digital tracking methods. However, there was no known communication from the abductors during the period of captivity.

Eyewitnesses said masked gunmen carried out the abduction near a police station, leading some bystanders to initially mistake it for an official security operation.

In response to the incident, the NBA declared a statewide boycott of court activities in Bayelsa, condemning the abduction as an assault on the judiciary. The association also called for urgent measures to safeguard judicial officers across the country.

The abduction and subsequent release of Justice Omukoro have reignited concerns over the safety and security of judicial personnel in Nigeria.