The family of Faruk Hassan Bunza has confirmed that N50 million was paid to secure his release after he spent eight days in captivity.
Justice Bunza was abducted in the early hours of Sunday, July 26, 2026, when armed bandits invaded his residence along Zogirma Road in Bunza Local Government Area of Kebbi State. He regained his freedom on Monday, August 3, 2026, and has since reunited with his family.
The release was confirmed by the Kebbi State Police Command, the judge’s family, and the state Ministry of Justice. Police spokesperson Bashir Usman said security agencies had intensified efforts to identify and arrest those responsible for the kidnapping.
A family member, who spoke anonymously because he was not authorised to speak publicly, disclosed that the kidnappers initially demanded N200 million but later accepted N50 million after several days of negotiations. According to the source, the judge is currently recovering at home and receiving medical and psychological attention following the traumatic experience.
Another relative told a Hausa online platform that the abductors, believed to be about five in number, directed the family to deliver the ransom deep inside a forest more than 70 kilometres from Birnin Kebbi. The source claimed the kidnappers also requested bottles of malt and other soft drinks, which they consumed before collecting the money.
The family said they received news of Justice Bunza’s release between 6 a.m. and 7 a.m. on Monday. He was reportedly brought home in a commercial vehicle transporting firewood and dropped in front of his residence. Relatives said he appeared physically healthy and showed no obvious signs of injury.
Despite the family’s confirmation of the payment, the police reiterated their opposition to ransom payments. The command stated that although the abductors made financial demands, security agencies maintained their official stance against paying kidnappers.
Details of the abduction indicate that the judge had just returned from a trip to Sokoto State when armed men confronted him inside his compound. A brother of the judge, Malam Shehu Yusuf Bunza, said the attackers fired several gunshots and forced the judge away on motorcycles. No other member of the household was injured during the incident.
The kidnapping has triggered strong reactions from legal and judicial bodies across Nigeria. The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) described the incident as a serious attack on the judiciary, the rule of law, and constitutional democracy. The association called for improved security protection for judges and other judicial officers nationwide.
The Africa Judges and Jurists Forum (AJJF) also condemned the abduction, warning that attacks on serving judges threaten judicial independence and public confidence in the justice system.
Kebbi State has experienced repeated bandit attacks in recent years, particularly in areas bordering forests linked to Niger, Zamfara, and Sokoto states. Although Bunza Local Government Area has not been considered one of the state’s major banditry hotspots, the abduction of a serving High Court judge marks a significant escalation in the security challenges facing the state.
