Bandits Demand N200m Ransom For Kidnapped Kebbi High Court Judge

The suspected bandits who abducted a Kebbi State High Court judge, Justice Faruku Hassan Bunza, have demanded a N200 million ransom from his family for his release.

The Kebbi State Commissioner of Police, CP Umar Muhammad Hadejia, confirmed the development to journalists on Monday in Birnin Kebbi.

Hadejia said police received intelligence that the abductors demanded N200 million from the judge’s family after he was kidnapped in the early hours of Sunday from his residence along Zogirma Road in Bunza Local Government Area.

“Following our swift intervention after the abduction, which occurred in the early hours of Sunday, a combined team of police officers was immediately deployed to the judge’s residence. During the operation, we got information that the abductors had demanded N200 million from the victim’s family before releasing him.

“My command has also deployed a combined team of police personnel to comb all suspected escape routes used by the abductors with a view to arresting them and rescuing the High Court judge unharmed,” he said.

The commissioner disclosed that the command had also reinforced security by mounting roadblocks along routes believed to have been used by the kidnappers.

He expressed confidence that the ongoing operation and other security measures put in place by the command would lead to the arrest of the abductors and the safe rescue of the judge.

Hadejia also confirmed the killing of one Abdulaziz Dogo and the arrest of another suspect, Ibrahim Abdulwahab, both residents of Ilesha in Kwara State, over the abduction of the former deputy speaker of the Kebbi State House of Assembly, Hon. Muhammad Samaila Bagudo, on October 31, 2025.

He advised members of the public, particularly government officials, to avoid travelling at midnight, warning that such journeys often expose them to attacks by bandits and other criminal elements.

The police commissioner further revealed that members of Justice Bunza’s family had told investigators that the judge frequently travelled at night despite the prevailing security challenges.

He also disclosed that the abductors had contacted a registrar of the High Court in Abuja regarding the payment of the N200 million ransom.

Police said efforts were ongoing to track down the kidnappers and secure the judge’s safe release.