The suspects behind the abduction of Bayelsa High Court Judge, Justice Ebiyerin Omukoro, have narrated how they carried out the kidnapping, providing chilling details of the operation.

Eight individuals, including six men and two women, were paraded in Yenagoa on Thursday by Bayelsa State Commissioner of Police, Francis Idu, in the presence of the Director of the Department of State Services (DSS), Adedapo Amao. The suspects are currently in DSS custody following a coordinated rescue and arrest operation.

Governor Douye Diri had announced during the State Executive Council meeting on Wednesday that all the individuals involved in the kidnap had been apprehended. He noted that the gang leader was still at large.

One of the suspects, Justice Brodrick, from Ozobo community in Delta State, admitted his role in the crime. He said he was invited to Yenagoa by a man he described as his boss.

Brodrick explained that they were given uniforms and a vehicle when they arrived in the state. He claimed the group did not have a specific target but abducted the judge after spotting him at an eatery in the Ekeki area.

“We saw the judge at Kilimanjaro and abducted him from there. We didn’t know he was a judge initially. When he told us he was from Ekeremor and also Ijaw, our leader, who we call General, said he should be treated with care, though he remained handcuffed,” Brodrick said.

He added that the victim was immediately moved to their camp in a neighboring state.

Another suspect, identified simply as John, said he did not join the operation due to illness but was present at the camp when the victim arrived.

Commissioner Idu attributed the success of the operation to the effective collaboration between security agencies and the support of the state government. He revealed that a special DSS team was sent from Abuja to lead the operation that led to the arrest of the suspects, including two female accomplices.

Idu commended the use of CCTV cameras installed across Yenagoa, saying the footage helped track the suspects throughout the operation.

“This success reflects the commitment of Governor Diri to security governance in Bayelsa. Anyone planning criminal activity should know the state is no longer a safe place for such actions,” he said.

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