The Nigeria Police Force has commenced an intensive rescue operation following the abduction of a Kebbi State High Court judge, Justice Faruku Hassan Bunza, who was kidnapped by suspected bandits at his residence in Bunza Local Government Area.
Justice Bunza was reportedly abducted around midnight on Saturday after armed men stormed his residence along Zogirma Road, shortly after he returned from a trip to Sokoto State.
Confirming the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer of the Kebbi State Command, SP Bashir Usman, said the command immediately mobilised security personnel after receiving a distress report.
According to him, the Commissioner of Police, CP Umar Muhammad Hadejia, ordered the deployment of tactical and intelligence teams to ensure the judge’s safe rescue.
“As we speak, our personnel are combing identified locations, including forest areas, to ensure that the judge is rescued alive and unharmed,” Usman said.
Police said security operatives are conducting intensive search operations in identified flashpoints, including nearby forests believed to be possible hideouts of the abductors.
Sources familiar with the incident said the gunmen invaded the judge’s residence shortly after he returned from Sokoto, fired sporadically into the air and whisked him away. No member of his family was injured during the attack.
The incident has since been reported to security agencies and the leadership of the Kebbi State High Court.
A senior court official, who spoke anonymously because he was not authorised to comment publicly, described the abduction as a painful development for the judiciary.
The official disclosed that the management of the High Court had already met with heads of security agencies to strengthen efforts aimed at securing Justice Bunza’s immediate release.
As of the time of filing this report, no group had claimed responsibility for the abduction, while the police said rescue efforts were ongoing.
Matawalle Orders Troops to Intensify Offensive Against Terrorists
Meanwhile, the Minister of State for Defence, Dr Bello Matawalle, has directed military formations involved in counter-terrorism operations across the North-West to intensify their offensive against armed groups.
In a statement issued by his Personal Assistant on Media, Ahmed Dan-Wudil, Matawalle expressed sympathy to victims of recent terrorist attacks in Zamfara State, assuring residents of the Federal Government’s commitment to restoring peace and security.
He directed the leadership of Operation Fansan Yamma and other military formations operating in Zamfara, Kebbi, Katsina, Sokoto and Kaduna states to sustain aggressive operations against terrorist groups.
The minister urged troops to employ every lawful and necessary measure to dismantle terrorist networks through targeted military operations.
He also appealed to traditional rulers and community leaders to provide security agencies with credible intelligence on individuals suspected of assisting terrorists with information or logistics.
Matawalle further instructed senior military commanders to strengthen surveillance, increase patrols and destroy terrorist hideouts before they could be used to launch further attacks.
Commending the Armed Forces and other security personnel for their sacrifices, the former Zamfara State governor praised recent military operations that led to the neutralisation of suspected terrorists in Gummi, Bukkuyum, Anka, Tsafe, Faskari and other locations.
He urged security forces to sustain the momentum until terrorism and banditry are effectively brought under control across the affected regions.
