A State High Court Judge, Justice E.G. Umokoro, was abducted by unknown gunmen, on Saturday around 7:30 pm, in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital.
Justice Umukoro, who is a presiding judge of High Court 7 in the state, was allegedly abducted at gunpoint in front of a popular eatery at the Ekeki area along Chief Melford Okilo Expressway in Yenagoa, at about 7:30pm on Saturday.
The motive for the abduction is unclear, an no one has reached out to the family of the victim, but the incident has heightened tension in the state following violent clashes between cult groups, which have claimed scores of lives, including violent robberies in parts of the state.
It was gathered that, the gunmen wearing black uniforms shot at him but missed. They then, blocked him with an unmarked white Hilux van and whisked him away.
The black Toyota Prado jeep in which he was riding at the time of his abduction was left behind.
In a video trending on social media, the victim was seen struggling with his abductors.
The kidnapped judge, who is said to be a respected figure in Bayelsa State judiciary, was said to have returned from a private engagement when the incident happened.
Justice Umukoro, a former chairman of Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), Yenagoa branch, has in the past presided over high profile cases in the state.
He has also presided over several election disputes in the state.
The Bayelsa State Police Command’s spokesperson Musa Muhammad, who confirmed the incident said the command had deployed tactical teams and drones to trail and arrest the hoodlums.
He also said that, a full statement would be issued on the incident.
