A High Court judge in Bayelsa State, Justice E.G. Umokoro, was abducted by gunmen on Saturday evening in Yenagoa, the state capital, sparking fear and confusion in the area.
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The judge, who presides over matters at Yenagoa High Court 7, was kidnapped at about 7:00 pm in front of Kilimanjaro, a popular eatery located in the busy Ekeki axis of the city.
Eyewitnesses said the assailants, who arrived in a vehicle, attempted to shoot the judge but missed. They then forcibly dragged him into their car and sped off, leaving bystanders in shock.
“The area was thrown into panic. People started running in different directions. It was terrifying,” one witness recounted.
The incident, which occurred in broad daylight in a usually busy commercial area, has heightened security concerns in the state capital.
As of the time of filing this report, the Bayelsa State Police Command has yet to issue an official statement regarding the abduction, and the whereabouts of Justice Umokoro remain unknown.
The motive behind the attack remains unclear, but residents and legal practitioners are calling for urgent action to rescue the judge and improve protection for judicial officers in the state.
Security operatives have reportedly launched a manhunt for the abductors, while investigations are ongoing.
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