Kidnapped A’Ibom High Court Judge: ONNA Paramount Ruler Calls Unconditional Release
The abduction of a High Court Judge in Akwa Ibom State, Hon. Justice Joy Umanah, along the Uyo-Okobo-Oron Road on December 18, 2023, has sparked community concerns in Onna Local Government Area.
Voicing out the concerns of indigenes of Onna LGA, where the kidnapped Judge hails from, His Royal Majesty, Edidem Raymond Timothy Inyang, FCA, Paramount Ruler of Onna, expressed profound sadness and shock at the unfortunate incident.
“We are a peace-loving local government area, so for this event to happen, it’s indeed shocking,” he said in a telephone interview on Thursday.
The incident occurred at approximately 8 pm on Monday when Judge Umanah and her driver, Idorinyin Ekanem, were returning to Uyo after the final family court session for the year.
They were kidnapped along the Okobo-Esuk Inwang – Ndon Ebom Road by unidentified gunmen.
Tragically, her police orderly, Inspector ThankGod Edet was killed by the unknown gunmen during the attack.
The Onna Community is now urging security agencies to work tirelessly to secure the safe release of Justice Umanah and her driver.
The Paramount Ruler in his plea, on behalf of the people of Onna LGA, reiterated their trust and reliance on the State Police Command and other security agencies to address the situation promptly.
“In Onna here, we are not sleeping. We have organised prayers and are reaching out to security agencies and other local government leaders to remedy the situation,” Edidem Inyang lamented.
As the community anxiously awaits the safe return of Justice Joy Umanah, the incident has prompted a collective call for increased security measures along the Uyo-Okobo-Oron Road and vulnerable routes in parts of the State.
