Justice Faruk Hassan Bunza, a High Court judge in Kebbi State, has regained his freedom after spending eight days in the custody of armed bandits. A family member confirmed that a ransom of N50 million was paid to secure his release, a figure reached after intense negotiations that brought the initial demand of N200 million down significantly.
Abduction and Ordeal
The judge was abducted from his residence on Zogirma Road in Bunza Local Government Area in the early hours of Sunday, July 26. He had just returned from a trip to Sokoto when gunmen stormed his home. According to a family source, approximately seven armed men confronted him as he stepped out of his vehicle, fired several shots, and whisked him away on motorcycles. No other member of the household was physically harmed during the incident.
Justice Bunza was released on Monday, August 4, and brought home in a commercial vehicle carrying firewood. The family source reported that his release occurred between 6 a.m. and 7 a.m., and he appeared physically well with no visible signs of distress. His return marks the end of a harrowing eight-day ordeal that drew widespread condemnation from judicial bodies and human rights advocates.
Ransom Negotiations and Payment
A separate family member who spoke to DCL Hausa detailed the ransom payment process. The kidnappers directed the family to a location deep inside a forest, more than 70 kilometres from Birnin Kebbi, to hand over the money. The source said the abductors, believed to number about five, made an unusual request just before the handover.
"While we were on our way to deliver the money, they called and asked us to bring five bottles of malt drinks and five bottles of Dudu drinks. They opened the drinks and consumed them in our presence before collecting the ransom," the source said. This bizarre request added a surreal twist to an already tense situation.
The family confirmed that the kidnappers initially demanded N200 million, but after eight days of negotiations, the figure was reduced to N50 million. The payment was made in a forest location, highlighting the logistical challenges families face in such situations.
Police Stance and Security Response
The Kebbi State Police Command issued a statement maintaining its "firm stance against ransom payment," even as it confirmed that a demand had been made. The command added that security agencies had begun tracking down the perpetrators. However, the police's position did not prevent the family from paying the ransom to secure the judge's safe release.
The abduction has raised serious concerns about the safety of judicial officers in Nigeria. The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), in a statement by its outgoing President, Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN, described the abduction as "a grave assault on the judiciary, the rule of law, and Nigeria's constitutional democracy." The NBA called for stronger security arrangements for judges nationwide, emphasizing that the judiciary must be protected from such attacks.
Condemnation from Judicial Bodies
The Africa Judges and Jurists Forum (AJJF), through its Chairperson Justice Professor Oagile Bethuel Key Dingake, also condemned the incident, stating that it "strikes at values that lie at the heart of every constitutional democracy." The AJJF stressed that judicial independence could not be preserved without guaranteeing the physical safety of judicial officers.
Justice Bunza's abduction was the second involving a sitting Nigerian judge in recent times, coming roughly a year after Bayelsa State High Court judge Ebiyerin Umokoro was kidnapped in June 2025. This pattern has alarmed the legal community, prompting calls for enhanced security protocols for judges across the country.
Family Response and Recovery
The family said it would address the media fully once the judge had completed his recovery. In the meantime, they have expressed gratitude for the support received during the ordeal. The judge's release brings a measure of relief, but the incident underscores the growing threat of banditry and kidnapping in Nigeria, particularly in the northern regions.
In a related incident, Legit.ng previously reported that the monarch of Agamọ Community in Akure North local government area, Oba Kehinde Falodun, was reportedly killed by suspected bandits during an attempted abduction at his palace. These events highlight the escalating security challenges facing traditional rulers, judges, and ordinary citizens alike.
