A gang of gunmen has abducted a High Court judge in Kebbi State, Faruku Bunza, following an ambush at his residence in the area.
The justice’s family member, who preferred to be anonymous, said that Bunza was kidnapped by the armed men few minutes after returning home, the assailants, storming the house while shouting, alerting residents in the area, but succeeded in abducting the judge without causing physical harm to other occupants or neighbours
The incident which happened in Bunza Local Government Area before dawn on Sunday, has triggered a coordinated rescue operation by security agencies as efforts intensify to secure the judge’s release.
A family source told journalists that Justice had returned home from Sokoto State shortly before the armed men invaded his residence along Zogirma Road and, and added, “Justice Faruku Hassan Bunza had just returned from Sokoto. Shortly after he arrived at his residence around midnight, armed men invaded the house and abducted him.
“They were shouting during the operation, attracting the attention of people around, but they left with him before anyone could intervene,” the source said.
The incident was immediately reported to the relevant authorities, including the management of the Kebbi State High Court, after which the family appealed to security agencies and the state government to intensify efforts to secure the the hostage’s safe release.
A senior official of the Kebbi State High Court, who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed the incident, describing it as a disturbing setback for the judiciary, but said that the court management had already begun consultations with security agencies to coordinate efforts to secure Justice Bunza’s release.
Confirming the abduction, the Police Public Relations Officer of the state’s Police Command, Bashir Usman, noted that the Commissioner of Police, Umar Hadejia, had deployed tactical and intelligence teams to rescue the judge.
“I can confirm that Hon. Justice Faruku Hassan Bunza was abducted from his residence in Bunza around midnight. Upon receiving the report, the Commissioner of Police immediately deployed tactical and intelligence operatives to ensure his safe rescue,” Usman said.
He added that security operatives had launched a coordinated manhunt for the perpetrators, with teams combing suspected hideouts and surrounding forest areas.
The police spokesperson assured residents that the command was working with other security agencies to rescue the judge unharmed and bring the abductors to justice.
No group had claimed responsibility for the abduction as of the time of filing this report, while investigations into the incident were ongoing.