Justice Faruku Hassan Bunza of the Kebbi State High Court has been abducted by suspected bandits following a midnight attack on his residence in Bunza Local Government Area of the state.
The incident occurred around 12:00 a.m. on Sunday, shortly after the judge returned from a trip to Sokoto State. The attackers reportedly invaded his residence along Zogirma Road, fired several gunshots into the air, and forcefully took him away.
Sources said no member of the judge’s family was injured during the operation.
A source familiar with the incident disclosed that the attack happened soon after Justice Bunza arrived home from Sokoto, adding that the relevant security agencies and the leadership of the Kebbi State High Court were immediately informed.
Confirming the incident, the spokesperson of the Kebbi State Police Command, SP Bashir Usman, said the judge was abducted from his residence around midnight.
He explained that the Commissioner of Police, CP Umar Muhammad Hadejia, had ordered the immediate deployment of tactical and intelligence teams to locate the abductors and secure the judge’s safe release.
According to the police, security operatives are currently carrying out intensive searches in identified locations, including forest hideouts, as part of efforts to rescue the judge unharmed.
A senior official of the Kebbi State High Court, who spoke on condition of anonymity, described the abduction as a major setback for the judiciary, expressing concern that a serving judge could be kidnapped from his own residence.
The official added that the management of the High Court had already engaged security agencies in the state to strengthen efforts towards securing Justice Bunza’s immediate release.
As of the time of filing this report, no individual or group had claimed responsibility for the abduction.
The incident comes amid persistent security challenges in Nigeria’s North-West, where armed bandits have continued to target public officials, traditional rulers and residents despite ongoing security operations.
In a similar development, gunmen recently abducted the Chairman of Bungudu Local Government Area of Zamfara State, Hon. Nura Umar Bungudu, during a late-night attack on his residence in Bungudu town. The assault reportedly claimed the lives of four security personnel.
