The Bayelsa State Police Command has arrested a key suspect in connection with the abduction of a Bayelsa State High Court judge, Justice E.G. Omukoro, who was kidnapped in Yenagoa last year.
The suspect, identified as 39-year-old Ogbonna-Otu Dennis, also known as Ogbono, is from Ekeremor Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.
He was arrested by operatives of the Violent Crime Response Unit, led by Chris Nwaogbo.
Justice Omukoro was abducted by masked gunmen in Yenagoa on June 21, 2025, and held captive for 12 days before he was rescued on July 3, 2025.
The judge was reportedly ambushed near his residence in Edepie, Yenagoa, after the kidnappers had allegedly laid surveillance around the area for about five months.
According to police sources, the arrested suspect is alleged to be the owner of the white Hilux vehicle used by the kidnapping gang during the abduction of Justice Omukoro.
He was also identified as the owner of a house in Edepie where the gang allegedly planned the abduction of both Justice Omukoro and one Aladei Godsave, owner of RuthMore Hotel.
The police team also recovered a motorcycle allegedly used to procure food and other items for kidnap victims kept at a hideout in Okaki Bush, a forested area between Rivers and Bayelsa states.
The motorcycle is said to belong to a dismissed police sergeant, Obrientele Ebiarede, who is currently at large.
The spokesperson of the Bayelsa State Police Command, Musa Mohammed, a Deputy Superintendent of Police, confirmed the arrest.
Mohammed attributed the success of the operation to the support of the Commissioner of Police, CP Iyamah Daniel Edebor, and the Inspector-General of Police, Mr Olatunji Rilwan Disu.
