Justice Faruku Hassan Bunza of the Kebbi State High Court has been abducted by suspected bandits after gunmen stormed his residence in Bunza Local Government Area of the state.
The judge was reportedly kidnapped in the early hours of Sunday, shortly after returning from Sokoto.
According to sources, the armed men invaded his home along Zogirma Road and fired several gunshots before taking him away. Fortunately, no member of his household was injured during the attack.
“He had just returned from Sokoto when the gunmen stormed his residence and took him away,” a source said.
The Kebbi State Police Command confirmed the incident through its spokesperson, SP Bashir Usman, who said the abduction occurred around midnight.
“I can confirm that Hon. Justice Faruku Hassan Bunza was abducted from his residence in Bunza around midnight,” Usman stated.
He disclosed that the Commissioner of Police, CP Umar Muhammad Hadejia, immediately ordered the deployment of tactical and intelligence teams to begin a rescue operation.
“As we speak, our personnel are combing identified locations, including forest areas, to ensure that the judge is rescued alive and unharmed,” the police spokesperson said.
A senior official of the Kebbi State High Court, who requested anonymity, described the incident as a painful blow to the judiciary.
“Though I’m not authorized to speak formally to the press, this is a painful moment for us. To hear that one of our judges was abducted at his residence is very disturbing,” the official said.
The official added that the management of the High Court has already met with security agencies in the state to discuss strategies aimed at securing the judge’s immediate release.
Security operatives are continuing search efforts as authorities work to rescue Justice Bunza and apprehend those responsible for the abduction.
