THE family of a Kebbi State High Court judge, Justice Faruk Hassan Bunza, who was abducted from his residence by armed bandits, has confirmed that N50 million ransom was paid to secure his release.
News Point Nigeria reports that Justice Bunza regained his freedom on Monday after spending eight days in captivity following his abduction in the early hours of Sunday, July 26, when heavily armed bandits stormed his residence in Bunza Local Government Area of Kebbi State.
The incident marked the second abduction of a serving judge in the country in recent times, coming after the kidnap of a Bayelsa State High Court judge, Justice Ebiyerin Umokoro, in June 2025.
The judge’s release was confirmed by the Kebbi State Police Command, his family and the state Ministry of Justice.
The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Bashir Usman, in a statement, said Justice Bunza was released earlier on Monday and had safely reunited with his family.
“With the judge now released, the police and other security agencies have intensified investigative efforts to track down the perpetrators and bring them to justice,” the statement said.
The command also appreciated members of the public and partner security agencies for their support throughout the operation, while urging residents to continue providing confidential and actionable information that could assist in apprehending the kidnappers.
A member of Justice Bunza’s family, who spoke with Daily Trust on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to comment publicly, confirmed that N50 million was paid to the abductors.
He disclosed that the judge was currently receiving attention and recovering at his residence in Bunza.
According to the family member, the kidnappers initially demanded N200 million but later agreed to accept N50 million after days of negotiations throughout the period the judge remained in captivity.
“We are still attending to him at home since his release on Monday. As you know, he needs time to recover from the trauma he went through.
“We will address the media when he has fully recovered, and we are ready to speak. We will then share details of his ordeal in the hands of his abductors. As for whether a ransom was paid, I can confirm that N50 million was paid,” the source said.
The family member also expressed appreciation to the Kebbi State Government, security agencies, the judiciary and residents of the state for their support, prayers and concern during the judge’s abduction.
“We are grateful to everyone who stood by us during this difficult period, especially the state government, the security agencies, the judiciary and all those who prayed for his safe return,” he added.
Another family member who spoke with Hausa online platform, DCL Hausa, revealed that the abductors, believed to be about five in number, collected the ransom on Friday after directing the family to a location deep inside a forest more than 70 kilometres from Birnin Kebbi.
According to the relative, the kidnappers made an unusual request shortly before the ransom was handed over.
“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.
The family disclosed that it received news of the judge’s release between 6 a.m. and 7 a.m. on Monday.
“We were informed of his release around 6 to 7 a.m. He was brought home in a commercial vehicle conveying firewood and dropped in front of the house,” the family member said.
The source added that Justice Bunza appeared to be in good health and showed no visible signs of physical distress after regaining his freedom.
“He is hale and hearty. There is nothing unusual about his physical appearance,” the source added.
However, the police command maintained that the security agencies did not support ransom payment despite confirming that the kidnappers made a demand.
“Although the kidnappers made a ransom demand, the command maintains its firm stance against ransom payment,” the police said.
The gunmen had stormed the judge’s residence on Zogirma Road in Bunza Local Government Area shortly after he returned from a trip to Sokoto.
The family source said no other person in the house was injured, although the attackers fired several gunshots before abducting the judge.
Earlier, a brother of the abducted judge, Malam Shehu Yusuf Bunza, narrated how the incident happened.
Shehu said one of Justice Bunza’s sons, Abdullahi, informed him that about seven armed men followed the judge from Sokoto before attacking him at his residence.
He said the attackers approached Justice Bunza as he drove into his compound and asked if he was Justice Faruku.
According to him, the judge initially denied being the person they were looking for, telling them that Faruku had travelled to Birnin Kebbi, but the attackers insisted they knew his identity.
Shehu said the kidnappers ordered the judge to keep quiet after he attempted to engage them in Hausa, but when he continued speaking, they brought out their weapons and fired indiscriminately.
He added that the attackers demanded access to the judge’s rooms but he refused, explaining that married women were inside.
They also asked for one of his sons, Abdullahi, but Justice Bunza told them the boy had gone out.
The kidnappers later took him away on their motorcycles.
The abduction triggered widespread outrage across Kebbi State and attracted condemnation from the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), which described the incident as a serious attack on the judiciary, the rule of law and Nigeria’s constitutional democracy.
The NBA, in a statement by its outgoing President, Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN, condemned the incident in strong terms.
“The NBA unequivocally condemns this reprehensible act in the strongest possible terms.
“Judicial officers occupy a sacred position in our constitutional democracy and must be able to discharge their responsibilities without fear, intimidation, or threats to their lives and liberty,” the statement said.
The association warned that the growing attacks against institutions and officials responsible for justice administration posed a serious threat to public confidence in the judicial system.
It called for improved security arrangements for judges and other judicial officers across Nigeria.
“Judges should not be left vulnerable to criminal attacks while carrying out the solemn constitutional duty of dispensing justice. Protecting members of the Bench is indispensable to preserving the independence, integrity, and effectiveness of the judiciary,” the NBA added.
The Africa Judges and Jurists Forum (AJJF) also condemned the abduction in a statement issued by its Chairperson, Justice Professor Oagile Bethuel Key Dingake.
The continental body described the incident as an attack on the fundamental values that support constitutional democracy.
“An attack on a serving judicial officer is a matter of the utmost gravity. Regardless of the motive behind this incident, the abduction of a judge strikes at values that lie at the heart of every constitutional democracy,” Dingake said.
He stressed that the administration of justice depended on judges being able to perform their constitutional duties without fear, intimidation, coercion or violence.
“The safety and security of judicial officers are therefore indispensable to preserving judicial independence, maintaining public confidence in the justice system, and upholding the rule of law,” he added.
Kebbi State has witnessed bandit attacks in recent years, although most of the violence has largely been concentrated in the southern and eastern parts of the state.
Many of the worst-hit areas share borders with forests in Niger, Zamfara and parts of Sokoto states, which armed groups have continued to use as hideouts.
One of the most notable attacks occurred in November 2025 when gunmen invaded the Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School in Maga, Danko/Wasagu Local Government Area, killing the vice principal and abducting 25 schoolgirls. The students were later rescued.