Bandits, on Sunday, abducted a kebbi State High Court Judge, Justice Faruku Hassan Bunza.
It was gathered the high court judge was abducted by gunmen suspected to be bandits in the early hours of Sunday at his home along Zogirma Road in Bunza Local Government Area of Kebbi.
According to a source, the attack occurred at about 12:00midnight on Saturday shortly after the judge returned from a trip to Sokoto.
“He had just returned from Sokoto when the gunmen stormed his residence and took him away.”
He added that nobody in the house was hurt as the attackers were shouting sporadically before escaping with the judge away.
“Immediately the incident occurred, we reported to the appropriate authorities, including the leadership of the High Court,” he said.
Kebbi State Police Public Relations Officer, Superintendent Bashir Usman, confirmed the abduction.
“I can confirm that Hon. Justice Faruku Hassan Bunza was abducted from his residence in Bunza around midnight,” he said.
According to the PPRO, upon receiving the report of the judge’s abduction, the Commissioner of Police, Umar Muhammad Hadejia , immediately deployed tactical and intelligence operatives to ensure his safe rescue.
“As we speak, our personnel are combing identified locations, including forest areas, to ensure that the judge is rescued alive and unharmed,” the PPRO said
A senior official of the Kebbi State High Court, who pleaded anonymity, confirmed the incident, describing it as a sad development for the judiciary.
“I am not authorised to speak formally, but this is a painful moment for us. To hear that one of our judges was abducted at his residence is very disturbing”, he said.
He added that the management of the High Court has already met with heads of security agencies in the state to strategise on securing his immediate release.
As of the time of filing this report, no group had claimed responsibility for the judge’s abduction.
