By Hadiza Mohammed, Northern Operation The family of abducted Kebbi State High Court Judge, Justice Faruku Hassan Bunza, has revealed how armed men allegedly trailed him from Sokoto to his residence before whisking him away in a late-night attack. Justice Bunza was abducted in the early hours of Sunday, July 27, at his residence along Zogirma Road in Bunza Local Government Area of Kebbi State, shortly after returning from a trip to Sokoto. The incident marks the second abduction of a serving judge in Nigeria in recent times, following the kidnap of Bayelsa High Court Judge, Justice Ebiyerin Umokoro, in June 2025. Speaking with Daily Trust, the judge's younger brother, Malam Shehu Yusuf Bunza, recounted the terrifying ordeal, saying he received a distress call from the judge's son, Abdullahi, while he was in Birnin Kebbi. According to him, about seven armed men followed Justice Bunza into his compound as he arrived home and confronted him while he was stepping out of his vehicle. "They asked if he was Justice Faruku. He denied it, saying Faruku had gone to Birnin Kebbi, but they insisted they knew he was the person they were looking for. "He then asked them in Hausa, 'Lafiya?' They ordered him to keep quiet, but when he continued speaking, they brought out their guns and started shooting indiscriminately," Shehu narrated. He said the kidnappers demanded that the judge lead them into his rooms, but he refused, explaining that married women were inside. The attackers also asked for his son, Abdullahi, but Justice Bunza told them the young man had gone out. Afterwards, the gunmen forced the judge onto one of their motorcycles and fled the scene. The family said the matter had been reported to the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Bunza Police Station and appealed for urgent intervention to secure the judge's release. Describing Justice Bunza as a quiet and law-abiding man, Shehu said the family could not understand why he was targeted. "Justice Faruku is a peace-loving man. He has not offended anyone. Whenever he is not sitting at High Court in Birnin Kebbi, he stays quietly at his home in Bunza. He hardly goes to market. Whenever he needs to buy something, he remains in car while one of his children goes into market," he said. "We are appealing to government and security agencies to do everything possible to rescue him. His wives, children and entire family are deeply worried about his whereabouts," he added. Confirming the incident, the Kebbi State Police Command spokesperson, SP Bashir Usman, said the abduction occurred around midnight. He disclosed that the Commissioner of Police, Umar Muhammad Hadejia, had deployed tactical operatives to comb nearby forests and other suspected hideouts in an effort to rescue the judge and apprehend the abductors. Justice Bunza, who was born on November 15, 1960, was appointed a judge of the Kebbi State High Court in 2012. Security agencies have intensified search operations as concern grows over the safety of judicial officers across the country.
