After nearly two harrowing weeks in the hands of masked abductors, Justice E.G. Umokoro of the Bayelsa State High Court has finally returned home — alive and safe.
Justice Umokoro, who was kidnapped on Saturday, June 21 in the heart of Yenagoa, regained his freedom on Wednesday, July 3, bringing a collective sigh of relief to the legal community and his family who had been praying for his return.
The Department of State Services (DSS) confirmed his release but remained tight-lipped about the details of how the ordeal ended — whether a rescue mission, negotiation, or quiet surrender by his abductors.
The abduction sent shockwaves across the state. Eyewitnesses at the scene that Saturday described the terrifying moment: gunmen dressed in black, faces hidden behind masks, opened fire at the judge — missing narrowly, before blocking his path with an unmarked white Hilux van and dragging him away.
Curiously, they left behind the black Toyota Prado SUV he was driving, raising questions about the motive behind the abduction.
The silence surrounding the incident since then has been deafening, leaving family, friends, and the legal fraternity clinging to hope, fearing the worst. But yesterday’s news finally brought closure — and gratitude.
A senior legal colleague in Bayelsa who asked not to be named said, “The judiciary is relieved. Justice Umokoro is not just a colleague — he’s a father figure to many of us. We thank God for his safe return.”
While many celebrate his freedom, questions linger: Who were the masked men? Why was he targeted? Will justice ever be served?
For now, however, the focus is on healing — for Justice Umokoro, for his family, and for a shaken city that has once again been reminded of the fragile line between order and fear.
