BIRNIN KEBBI: Kidnappers who abducted a Kebbi State High Court Judge, Justice Faruku Hassan Bunza, have demanded a ransom of ₦200 million for his release, prompting an intensified rescue operation by security agencies across the state.
The development was disclosed by the Kebbi State Commissioner of Police, Umar Muhammad Hadejia, during a press briefing in Birnin Kebbi on Monday, where he provided an update on the investigation and ongoing efforts to secure the judge’s freedom.
Justice Bunza was kidnapped in the early hours of Sunday from his residence along Zogirma Road in Bunza Local Government Area of Kebbi State.
The abduction has sparked concern within Nigeria’s judiciary, legal community, and among residents of the state, highlighting the growing security challenges facing judicial officers and other public officials.
According to Commissioner Hadejia, investigators learned of the ₦200 million ransom demand after the police launched an immediate response to the incident.
He disclosed that intelligence available to the command indicates that the abductors have established contact with members of the judge’s family and are demanding the huge payment in exchange for his release.
The police commissioner further revealed that the family informed security authorities that the kidnappers also reached out to a registrar of the High Court in Abuja as part of efforts to negotiate the ransom.
Hadejia assured the public that the police, working alongside other security agencies, are treating the case as a top priority.
He said all available intelligence and operational resources are being deployed to ensure the judge is rescued safely and the perpetrators are brought to justice.
According to him, a combined team of police officers and other security personnel has been mobilized to comb forests and suspected escape routes believed to have been used by the kidnappers after carrying out the abduction.
The commissioner emphasized that the security operation remains active and that investigators are pursuing every credible lead to locate the victim and dismantle the criminal network responsible.
The abduction has renewed concerns over the safety of judicial officers in Nigeria, particularly in regions where kidnapping for ransom has become increasingly common.
Legal practitioners have repeatedly called for enhanced security around judges and court officials, warning that attacks on members of the judiciary could undermine public confidence in the administration of justice.
Security experts have also stressed the need for stronger intelligence gathering, improved surveillance, and closer collaboration among law enforcement agencies to combat organized kidnapping syndicates operating across parts of the country.
As rescue efforts continue, authorities have appealed to members of the public to provide any useful information that could assist in locating the abducted judge while assuring residents that every effort is being made to secure his safe return.
