By DAPO AKINREFON

PROMINENT Itsekiri leader, Chief Rita Lori-Ogbebor, has said that unless urgent steps were taken to tackle the increase in kidnap of judges in Delta State, it might lead to anarchy in the state.

Chief Ogbebor has, meanwhile, called on the Inspector-General of Police, Chief of Defence Staff and National Judicial Council, to wade into the spate of kidnap of judges in the state.

Addressing newsmen in Lagos, yesterday, she  expressed worry over the continued kidnap of judges in Delta State who were about delivering judgment on pending cases, saying, “this might result to anarchy and if not curbed, will throw the state into a state of confusion because some influential persons in the state will not want the confusion to end.

“I had to call for an investigation into the situation where judges are being kidnapped especially when the first in the series, the kidnap of Justice Okon, happened. Justice Okon was kidnapped when he was on his way to give judgment in the suit seeking an injunction, which Okere community brought to stop Delta State Government from building on their land. Justice Okon was on his way to court when he was kidnapped.

Justice Azinage was to be kidnapped but was lucky as he ran away and was absent from the court for two months. It has happened again. Justice Mukoro was on his way to court to handle a case instituted by oil producing communities in Itsekiri, when he narrowly escaped being kidnapped and killed. He has since gone out of circulation fearing, for his life. This matter has since been adjourned.

“The irony here is that the two cases of kidnap of these judges are over matters involving two Itsekiri communities. When the Okere people instituted their case, Justice Okoh was in charge of the case, but upon his release by his kidnappers, Justice Mukoro took over the case.”