Abductors of a Judge of the Bayelsa State High Court,
Justice Ebiyerin Omukoro, have been arrested by the state command of the
Nigerian Police.
Justice Omukoro was kidnapped on June 21 in Yenagoa
and was held for 12 days before he was rescued through the joint effort of
security agencies in the state.
Governor Douye Diri disclosed the arrest on Wednesday
during the state executive council meeting in Government House, Yenagoa, while
honouring an officer, Superintendent of Police, Sentome Obi, who rejected a
$17,000 bribe offered by a suspect involved in organ harvesting.
The Bayelsa governor, in a statement by his Chief
Press Secretary, Daniel Alabrah, said everyone involved in the kidnap had been
picked up by the police except the gang leader that was on the run.
He restated his warning to criminally-minded
individuals to steer clear of Bayelsa, and stressed his administration’s
commitment to its zero tolerance policy for crime and criminality.
He said the government had improved security
architecture in the state with the acquisition of drones for the police to
fight crime in addition to the installation of CCTV cameras in different parts
of the state capital.
His words: "We have greatly improved our crime
fighting efforts using technology. In the recent kidnap of a serving judge in
the state, we were able to get him released unhurt.
"We summoned the security agencies and gave them
the necessary logistics. At the end of the day, all those who committed the
crime were apprehended except one that is still on the run. Bayelsa State has
zero tolerance to crime and criminality."
Diri commended the security agencies for their effort
in ensuring that the state was safe and peaceful.
While honouring SP Obi, the Bayelsa governor praised
his gallantry, honesty and devotion to duty.
He said the officer, who is an indigene of the state,
brought dignity and pride to the Force and to Bayelsa.
He recommended Obi to the Inspector General of Police
for promotion in recognition of his gallant effort in crime fighting.
On behalf of the state government, Governor Diri
announced a reward of three-bedroom flat and a car as a mark of honour for his
exemplary integrity.
He said at a time the Nigerian Police was grappling
with image issues, Bayelsa had produced a police officer with commendable
character and proved that a good name was better than riches.
According to him, "SP Obi did not only make the
state proud, he also bolstered the image of the Nigerian Police and I urge
other officers to emulate his shining example.”
In his remarks, the Bayelsa State Commissioner of
Police, Mr. Francis Idu, congratulated the government and people of the state
for producing one of the most dedicated and well-groomed officers in Obi.
The police chief stressed the need for government to
invest more in boosting security towards the protection of lives and property
L-R: Bayelsa State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Francis
Idu, Deputy Governor Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, Governor Douye Diri, Superintendent
of Police Sentome Obi, and his wife, when Obi was honoured by the state
government for rejecting a bribe of $17,000 on Wednesday at Government House,
Yenagoa
Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri (right), and Superintendent of Police Sentome Obi, when the latter was honoured by the state government for rejecting a bribe of $17,000 on Wednesday at Government House, Yenagoa
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