“N50m Was Paid”: Family Opens Up on Kebbi Judge’s Release
Eight days after he was taken from his home by armed men, Justice Faruk Hassan Bunza of the Kebbi State High Court has regained his freedom, with his family confirming that N50 million was paid before he was released.
Justice Farouk Hassan Bunza
A family member, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to comment publicly, said the abductors had initially demanded N200 million but later reduced the amount after several days of negotiations.
“I can confirm that N50 million was paid,” the source said, adding that the judge is now at home receiving care and recovering from the traumatic experience.
Justice Bunza was kidnapped in the early hours of July 26 after heavily armed gunmen invaded his residence in Bunza Local Government Area shortly after he returned from Sokoto State.
His release on Monday ended more than a week of uncertainty for his family and colleagues.
The Kebbi State Police Command confirmed that the judge had reunited safely with his family. Police spokesperson Bashir Usman said security agencies had intensified efforts to identify and arrest those behind the abduction.
Although the police acknowledged that the kidnappers demanded ransom, the command maintained its position against the payment of ransom in kidnapping cases.
The family said Justice Bunza would speak publicly only after he had fully recovered.
“He needs time to recover from what he went through. We are grateful to everyone who stood with us during this difficult period,” the source said.
The family also thanked the Kebbi State Government, security agencies, members of the judiciary and residents who offered prayers and support throughout the ordeal.
Another relative disclosed that the kidnappers directed those delivering the ransom to a remote forest more than 70 kilometres from Birnin Kebbi.
Before collecting the money, the armed men reportedly asked for five bottles of malt and five bottles of Dudu drinks, which they consumed in the presence of those who delivered the ransom.
According to the family, news of the judge’s release came between 6 a.m. and 7 a.m. on Monday. He was reportedly brought back in a commercial vehicle carrying firewood and dropped near his residence.
Relatives said the judge appeared physically well despite spending eight days in captivity and showed no obvious signs of injury.
Justice Bunza’s abduction has attracted widespread condemnation from legal bodies across the country and beyond.
The Nigerian Bar Association described the incident as a serious attack on the judiciary, warning that judges cannot carry out their constitutional responsibilities effectively if their safety is not guaranteed. The association called for stronger security arrangements for judicial officers across Nigeria.
The Africa Judges and Jurists Forum also condemned the incident, describing the abduction of a serving judge as an attack on the rule of law and the principles of constitutional democracy.
Although Kebbi State has experienced repeated attacks by armed groups in recent years, many of the worst incidents have occurred in communities bordering forests linked to Niger, Zamfara and parts of Sokoto states.
The kidnapping of a serving High Court judge in Bunza, an area not widely known as one of the state’s major banditry hotspots, has raised fresh concerns about the spread of insecurity and the safety of judicial officers across the country.
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