A judge of the Bayelsa State High Court, Justice E.G. Umokoro, was kidnapped yesterday evening by unknown gunmen in Yenagoa, the state capital.
The incident happened around 7 p.m. near a popular restaurant in the Ekeki area, along the Chief Melford Okilo Expressway.
Eyewitnesses said the attackers seized the judge right in front of the eatery and drove off with him before security operatives could respond.
The reason for the abduction is not yet known, but the incident has caused panic among residents, especially as Bayelsa has recently seen a rise in violent crimes, including clashes between cult groups and armed robberies. These clashes have led to the deaths of several people in different parts of the state.
Efforts to reach the Bayelsa State Police Public Relations Officer, Musa Mohammed, were unsuccessful as calls to his phone went unanswered at the time of this report.
Security agencies are expected to launch an investigation and rescue effort, but no official statement has been released yet.