Bandits Abduct High Court Judge in Nigeria's Kebbi State

Justice Faruku Hassan, a judge of the Kebbi State High Court, has been abducted from his residence in the Bunza Local Government Area. The incident occurred in the early hours of Sunday, shortly after the judge had returned from a visit to neighboring Sokoto State.

Bashir Usman, the police spokesperson in Kebbi, confirmed the abduction, stating, “I can confirm that Hon. Justice Faruku Hassan Bunza was abducted from his residence in Bunza around midnight.” In response, the Commissioner of Police, Umar Hadejia, has deployed tactical and intelligence units to track the perpetrators and ensure the judge's safe return.

As of the time of reporting, no group has claimed responsibility for the kidnapping. This event follows closely on the heels of another high-profile abduction in the region, with a local government chairman being kidnapped in neighboring Zamfara State within the preceding 24 hours.

Armed groups in Nigeria's Northwest region have increasingly targeted prominent public figures. Judicial officers, local government leaders, traditional rulers, and religious leaders have all become targets. The affected states, including Kebbi, Zamfara, Sokoto, and Katsina, share vast, poorly patrolled forest reserves, such as the Rugu and Kuyambana forests, which bandits use as operational bases and hideouts, allowing them to move fluidly across state boundaries.

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I can confirm that Hon. Justice Faruku Hassan Bunza was abducted from his residence in Bunza around midnight.