Freedom Cost N50m: Family Opens Up on Kidnapped Kebbi Judge’s Release

Freedom Cost N50m: Family Opens Up on Kidnapped Kebbi Judge’s Release

For eight days, the family of Justice Faruk Hassan Bunza lived between hope and fear, waiting for the call that would tell them whether their loved one would return home alive.

Justice Faruk Hassan Bunza

That call finally came on Monday, but not before the family says it paid N50 million to those who abducted the Kebbi State High Court judge.

A relative of the judge, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to address the media, confirmed that the ransom was paid after days of negotiations with the kidnappers.

According to the family, the abductors had initially demanded N200 million but later agreed to accept N50 million before releasing the judge.

Justice Bunza was kidnapped in the early hours of July 26 when heavily armed gunmen stormed his residence in Bunza Local Government Area shortly after he returned from a trip to Sokoto State. His release on Monday brought an end to eight difficult days in captivity.

The Kebbi State Police Command confirmed that the judge had regained his freedom and reunited with his family.

Police spokesperson Bashir Usman said security agencies had stepped up efforts to identify and arrest those behind the abduction.

Speaking about the judge’s condition, the family said he is recovering from the traumatic experience and is receiving care at home.

“He needs time to rest and recover. When he is stronger, we will speak publicly about everything he went through. For now, we are simply grateful that he is back with us,” the family source said.

The family also thanked the Kebbi State Government, security agencies, members of the judiciary and residents who stood by them with prayers and support throughout the ordeal.

Another relative, who spoke to a Hausa-language online platform, disclosed that the kidnappers directed family representatives to deliver the ransom at a location deep inside a forest, more than 70 kilometres from Birnin Kebbi.

The source said the armed men made an unusual request before collecting the money.

“They asked us to bring five bottles of malt and five bottles of Dudu drinks. They opened the bottles and drank them in our presence before taking the ransom,” the relative said.

According to the family, news of the judge’s release reached them between 6 a.m. and 7 a.m. on Monday.

He was reportedly brought back in a commercial vehicle transporting firewood and dropped close to his residence.

Relatives said Justice Bunza appeared physically healthy despite the ordeal and showed no visible signs of injury.

Although the police acknowledged that the kidnappers demanded ransom, the command maintained its long-standing position against the payment of ransom in kidnapping cases.

Justice Bunza’s abduction has drawn strong reactions from the legal community.

The Nigerian Bar Association described the incident as a serious attack on the judiciary and warned that judges cannot effectively carry out their constitutional responsibilities if they are left vulnerable to criminal attacks.

The association called for stronger security measures to protect judicial officers across the country.

The Africa Judges and Jurists Forum also condemned the abduction, saying attacks on judges threaten the rule of law and weaken public confidence in the justice system.

For many observers, the incident has once again highlighted the growing reach of armed criminal groups in parts of northern Nigeria.

Although Kebbi State has witnessed bandit attacks in recent years, most have occurred in communities bordering forests linked to Niger, Zamfara and parts of Sokoto states.

The abduction of a serving High Court judge in Bunza, an area not previously regarded as one of the state’s major banditry hotspots, has renewed concerns about the safety of public officials and the urgent need for stronger security across the country.