Suspected bandits have abducted a Kebbi State High Court judge, Justice Faruku Hassan Bunza, from his residence in Bunza Local Government Area of the state.
The judge was reportedly kidnapped in the early hours of Sunday after armed men stormed his home along Zogirma Road shortly after he returned from a trip to Sokoto.
Sources said the incident occurred around midnight.
According to a reliable source, the gunmen invaded Justice Bunza’s residence shortly after his arrival from Sokoto and whisked him away.
“No member of his household was injured during the attack, although the assailants fired sporadically before fleeing with their victim,” the source said.
The source added that the incident was immediately reported to the relevant authorities, including the leadership of the Kebbi State High Court.
Confirming the abduction, the spokesperson for the Kebbi State Police Command, SP Bashir Usman, said the judge was abducted from his residence around midnight.
“I can confirm that Hon. Justice Faruku Hassan Bunza was abducted from his residence in Bunza around midnight,” Usman said.
He disclosed that the Commissioner of Police, CP Umar Muhammad Hadejia, had deployed tactical and intelligence teams to facilitate the judge’s rescue.
“Our personnel are combing identified locations, including forest areas, to ensure that the judge is rescued alive and unharmed,” the police spokesperson added.
A senior official of the Kebbi State High Court, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to comment publicly, described the incident as a disturbing development for the judiciary.
He said the management of the State High Court had already met with heads of security agencies in Kebbi State to strategise on securing Justice Bunza’s immediate release.
(The Whistler)