- My experience in kidnappers’ den- Justice Omukoro
Fro Femi Folaranmi, Yenagoa
Intense pressure from security agencies was instrumental in how the abducted Bayelsa State High Court Judge, Justice Ebiyerin Omukoro, regained his freedom, 12 days after being in captivity.
According to security sources, the kidnappers, after being incommunicado, had demanded a ransom of ₦300million in foreign currency.
Security agencies capitalised on the call to intensify their rescue operation in the forest of Ekeremor following earlier leads from the kidnapper’s phone that dropped on the day of the incident.
Three of the suspects were said to have been picked up, and they provided useful details that paved the way for the rescue operation.
Investigations revealed that a team from the Department of State Security, with tactical coordination by the Director of the Department of State Services, DSS, Mr Adedapo Amao, and the Bayelsa State Police Command Operation Puff Adder, led by CSP Chris Nwaogbo, launched the rescue operation, which eventually yielded fruit.
Three of the suspected kidnappers were said to have fled and abandoned their victim upon realising that security agencies were closing in on them.
Justice Omukoro was presented to the Judiciary at the DSS headquarters in the presence of the Bayelsa State Commissioner of Police, Francis Idu.
Amao and Idu, in their separate comments, confirmed that the Jurist was rescued without the payment of ransom.
Speaking on his experience in the kidnappers’ den, Justice Omukoro said he still could not come to terms with the fact that hoodlums disguised as security agents abducted him.
He expressed gratitude to the security agencies and the Bayelsa state government for facilitating his rescue.
‘’I felt like the nightmare was refusing to come to an end. I just wanted to wake up and find it had been one long nightmare; I would rather forget. I still could not come to terms with the fact that I had been abducted and kept in the jungle by hoodlums masquerading as security men. God was there for me from the beginning to the end. And the prayers of all of you. And the wonderful concerted efforts of the Director of State Security and the Commissioner of Police and his wonderful anti-kidnapping unit.
I came out today unscathed. Even my abductors were shocked. They were telling me that they thought that I would be critically ill or collapse, and are surprised that I am still brimming with energy. Even though we were out there in the jungle, not in any house, but out completely, subjected to the cold elements. I told myself that I am not going to die here, but will come out alive and testify to God’s mercy’’
Meanwhile, Bayelsa governor, Senator Douye Diri, has commended security agencies in the state for the rescue of Justice Ebieyerin Umukoro from his abductors.
A statement by the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Daniel Alabrah, informed that security men went on the trail of his abductors following a directive by Governor Diri that he be rescued unhurt.
The Bayelsa governor praised the combined effort of the security agencies, particularly men of the Department of State Services (DSS), for their unrelenting pressure on the kidnappers that eventually led to his freedom.
He said the criminals, who fled due to the pressure, would be arrested and brought to justice.
While assuring residents of the state of their safety and security, Governor Diri restated his warning to criminally-minded individuals to steer clear of Bayelsa as his administration had invested much resources to guarantee peace and security of the state.