Pressure from the governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri, as well as the support he gave to security agencies is said to have hastened the release of the kidnapped judge of the Bayelsa high court, Justice Ebieyerin Umukoro.
Umukoro, was set free on Thursday evening after spending about 12 days in the den of kidnappers. TNN learnt that the governor had put security operatives, especially heads of the agencies in Abuja under very serious pressure and did not allow them any breathing space until Thursday when the man was released.
It was gathered that the governor provided much more than the security agencies asked for, and kept them on their toes, as he demanded minute by minute report on the matter.
Umokoro, while addressing journalists in Yenagoa after his release was full of praises for the governor and the security agents for the role they played in getting him out of the kidnappers’ den.
But the security source told TNN on Friday that the judge may not have even known the extent to which the governor went in an effort to ensure his release. The source said Diri took it as a personal case and had given the security operatives a deadline for them to get the man out.
In fact, the source said the governor had to delay his trip to America for the Ijaw Peoples convention and insisted that he would not leave the country when the judge was still held in captivity.
TNN was equally informed that security operatives have got a clue on the kidnap gang leader and have arrested the man’s wife and children, since the man had fled. It is hoped that with the arrest of his family members, the main suspect would give himself up.
Meanwhile, Diri has praised security agencies for their effort. in particular, he hailed men of the Department of State Services (DSS), for their unrelenting pressure on the kidnappers that eventually led to his freedom, according to a statement by his chief press secretary, Mr Daniel Alabrah,
While assuring residents of the state of their safety and security, Diri restated his warning to criminally-minded individuals to steer clear of Bayelsa as his administration had invested much resources to guarantee peace and security of the state.
He also said the security agencies would continue to be supported by the administration to carry out their responsibility and called for greater support and cooperation from the people while assuring them that their security was a priority of the administration.
