Bayelsa: Police Command Dismisses Sergeant Over  Involvement In Kidnap Of Judge

By Ayodele Oni

Bayelsa State Police Command has announced the dismissal of  Obrientele Ebiarede a Sergeant, over his alleged involvement in the recent abduction of a State High Court Judge, Justice Ebiyerin Omukoro.

Ebiarede is an Indigene of Foutorugbene Community in Ekeremor Local Government Area of the State.

The State Commissioner of Police, Francis Idu, had declared Sergeant Ebiarede a deserter under the section 398(1) of the Police Act and Regulations 2020 over abscondment from duty for over 30 days.

Although the combined team of the Department of the State Security and the Operation Puff Adder of the State Police Command had arrested eight suspects alleged to have been involved in the abduction of the Judge, while the dismissed Sergeant was still at large.

Report revealed that the Police investigating officers attached to the Operation Puff Adder led by CSP Chris Nwaogbo had stormed the home of one of the suspects, Emizibo Clement alias Obonor, located at Edepie and recovered the Motorcycle used by the dismissed Sergeant to supply logistics to the kidnappers.

The State Police headquarters had sent signals to all Commands and 17 AIG zones to apprehend Ebiarede and also directed the IPPIS and Police Budget to stop the payment of his salaries.

The Bayelsa State High Court Judge, Justice Ebiyerin Omukoro, who was kidnapped in June regained freedom after 13 days in captivity.

Though he was released from the kidnappers’ den without payment of ransom, his abductors had  demanded N300 million in foreign currency for his release.

Eight suspects, including six males and two females, were  paraded by the Commissioner of Police in Bayelsa, Francis Idu for their various degree of involvement in the case.