Insecurity escalates in Yenagoa, judge abducted, man confesses to killing toddler
Residents of Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital, are living in fear as cult-related killings, robberies, and violence escalate, disrupting daily life and instilling a climate of insecurity. Once considered the most peaceful state in the Niger Delta, the city now grapples with near-daily incidents of violence.
Cult groups armed with guns and machetes operate openly, targeting rival gangs and unsuspecting victims, particularly in areas such as Amarata and Yenezue-Gene.
In Amarata, four individuals were reportedly killed in gang attacks, while in Yenezue-Gene, three people were shot dead during separate robbery incidents. A young man in his late twenties was also killed on Friday after armed men broke into his home at dawn.
The surge in violence has caused shops to close as early as 6:00 p.m., with streets deserted by 8:00 p.m., while many residents sleep fitfully amidst the sound of gunfire. Panic spreads easily, with people fleeing at the slightest hint of danger.
Tension heightened further on Saturday when a State High Court judge, Justice E.G. Umokoro, was abducted by gunmen at Ekeki area in Yenagoa. The judge was reportedly kidnapped in front of a popular eatery, Kilimanjaro, at about 7:00 p.m. as he attempted to purchase bread with his two daughters.
Eyewitnesses said armed men, dressed in police-like uniforms and masks, trailed the judge to the location. Two men from a Nissan Hilux vehicle approached his car, forcibly removed him after a brief exchange, and whisked him away in a waiting vehicle. The incident, captured on closed-circuit cameras, lasted over 50 minutes.
A military officer who considered intervening retreated after a gunshot was fired. “I thought they were police or DSS operatives because of their uniform, but later it became clear they were kidnappers,” an eyewitness said.
The judge’s phone and other personal items were reportedly recovered by a passer-by and handed to the police. The Bayelsa State Police Command has confirmed the abduction and launched an investigation.
The state is also reeling from the shocking murder of a four-year-old boy, Muhammadu Bilah, allegedly killed by Godspower Ebisimiagh, a suspected cultist, in the Aritalin area of Ovom.
Police have confirmed that the suspect is under investigation for ritual killing. The Bayelsa Commissioner of Police, Francis Idu, has assured advocacy groups of justice in the case.
Former Ijaw Youth Council President Udengs Eradiri condemned the rising insecurity and urged Governor Douye Diri to take decisive action. Critics have lambasted the governor’s silence, calling for immediate measures to end the violence that has claimed over 40 lives in four months.
(The Guardian)
