The Bayelsa State Police Command has arrested a key suspect linked to the June 2025 kidnapping of a Bayelsa State High Court judge, Justice Ebiyerin Omukoro, marking a significant breakthrough in the high-profile case.Operatives of Operation Puff Adder apprehended the suspect, identified as 41-year-old Emizibo Dennis Ogbomnanatu Clement, also known as “Ogbono,” during a coordinated intelligence-led operation in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital.
Police sources disclosed that Clement is a native of Ndoro community in Ekeremor Local Government Area of Bayelsa State. He reportedly claimed to be a postgraduate student of the Federal University, Otuoke, located in Ogbia Local Government Area. According to investigators, the suspect was found in possession of an old-model white Toyota Hilux vehicle believed to have been used during the abduction of Justice Omukoro. Intelligence analysis further linked Clement to the crime through two mobile phones reportedly left behind by the kidnappers at the scene.
The arrest followed weeks of sustained surveillance led by operatives under the command of the Bayelsa State Police Commissioner, Daniel Iyamah. The monitoring focused on two properties allegedly owned by the suspect in the Edepie area of Yenagoa.Clement was arrested when he visited one of the properties to issue quit notices to tenants. Police sources said he arrived at the location with military escorts, unaware that armed police operatives were already on standby to effect his arrest.
The same property had earlier yielded a motorcycle allegedly belonging to a dismissed police officer suspected to be involved in the kidnapping. The former officer remains at large, and efforts are ongoing to apprehend him.A senior officer in the Bayelsa State Police Command described the arrest as a testament to the command’s commitment to intelligence-driven policing and public safety. The officer noted that the operation reflects the resolve of the police leadership to dismantle criminal networks operating within the state.
Justice Omukoro was abducted on June 21, 2025, at an eatery in the Ekeki area of Yenagoa by armed men. The incident sparked widespread concern across the state and beyond, given the victim’s judicial status.After spending 12 days in captivity, the judge regained his freedom under circumstances that were not officially disclosed by the authorities for security reasons.Prior to Clement’s arrest, the police had arrested and paraded eight suspects in connection with the kidnapping. The suspects included six men and two women, all of whom are currently facing further investigation and prosecution.
The police command also confirmed the dismissal of Sergeant Obrientele Ebiarede from the Nigeria Police Force over his alleged involvement in the crime. The dismissed officer is currently on the run.The Bayelsa Police Command reiterated its assurance to residents that all individuals connected to the kidnapping of Justice Omukoro would be tracked down and brought to justice, as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen security and uphold the rule of law in the state.
