Bandits abduct Kebbi High Court judge

n n

File image of bandits

n

By Haruna Aliyu, Birnin Kebbi

n

A High Court judge, Justice Faruku Hassan Bunza, has been abducted by bandits in Bunza area of Kebbi State.

n

A reliable source said the 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.

n

He said, “He had just returned from Sokoto when the gunmen stormed his residence and took him away.”

n

He added that nobody in the house was hurt while the attackers were shooting sporadically before whisking him away.

n

The Police Public Relations Officer, Kebbi State Command, SP Bashir Usman, confirmed the abduction to our correspondent. He said, “I can confirm that Hon. Justice Faruku Hassan Bunza was abducted from his residence in Bunza around midnight.”

n

The PPRO said on receiving the report on his abduction, the Commissioner of Police, CP Umar Muhammad Hadejia, immediately deployed tactical and intelligence operatives to ensure his safe rescue.

n

“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.

n

A senior official of the Kebbi State High Court, who pleaded for anonymity, confirmed the incident to journalists. He described the incident as a sad development for the judiciary.

n

“Though I’m not authorized to speak formally to the press, this is a painful moment for us.

n

“To hear that one of our judges was abducted at his residence is very disturbing,” he said.

n

He said that the management of the High Court in Kebbi has already met with heads of security agencies in the state to strategize on securing his immediate release.

n n