A Kebbi State High Court judge, Justice Faruku Hassan Bunza, has been abducted by gunmen at his residence along Zogirma Road in Bunza Local Government Area of the state.
The incident, which occurred in the early hours of Sunday, marks the second abduction of a serving judge in recent times.
A state high court judge, Justice Ebiyerin Umokoro, had been kidnapped in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State in June 2025. He was freed after 12 days in captivity.
The gunmen attacked Justice Bunza shortly after he returned from a trip to Sokoto.
“He had just returned from Sokoto when the gunmen stormed his residence and took him away,” a source said.
The source added that no one else in the house was injured, although the attackers fired several gunshots before leaving with the judge.
“Immediately the incident occurred, we reported it to the appropriate authorities, including the leadership of the High Court,” he said.
The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Kebbi State Command, SP Bashir Usman, confirmed the abduction.
“I can confirm that Hon. Justice Faruku Hassan Bunza was abducted from his residence in Bunza around midnight,” he said.
The police spokesman said the Commissioner of Police, CP Umar Muhammad Hadejia, had deployed tactical and intelligence operatives after receiving the report.
“As we speak, our personnel are combing identified locations, including forest areas, to ensure that the judge is rescued alive and unharmed,” he said.
A senior official of the Kebbi State High Court, who requested anonymity because he was not authorised to speak on the matter, described the incident as a sad development for the judiciary.
“I am not authorised to speak officially, but this is a painful moment for us. To hear that one of our judges was abducted from his residence is deeply disturbing,” he said.
He added that the management of the High Court had already met with heads of security agencies in the state to strategise on securing the judge’s immediate release.
As of the time of filing this report, no group had claimed responsibility for the abduction.
A brother of the abducted judge, Malam Shehu Yusuf Bunza, told Dailytrust that the family was deeply worried about his whereabouts.
Shehu said, “I was in Birnin Kebbi when one of his sons, Abdullahi, called me. He said about seven armed men followed his father as he was returning from Sokoto. As he drove into his compound and was getting out of his vehicle, they approached him.
“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.
“They asked him to take them to his rooms, but he refused, saying there were married women inside.
“They also asked for one of his sons, Abdullahi, but he told them the boy had gone out. After that, they took him away on their motorcycles.”
Shehu said he asked what steps the family had taken after the incident, and Abdullahi told him they had reported the matter to the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Bunza Police Station.
Kebbi State has witnessed bandit attacks in recent years, although the violence has largely been concentrated in the southern and eastern parts of the state.
Most of the worst-hit areas border forests in Niger, Zamfara and parts of Sokoto states, which armed groups use as hideouts.
One of the most notable incidents occurred in November 2025 when gunmen attacked the Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School in Maga, Danko/Wasagu Local Government Area, killed the vice principal and abducted 25 schoolgirls. The students were later rescued.
Although Bunza LGA has not been one of Kebbi’s banditry hotspots, the abduction of Justice Faruku Hassan Bunza represents a significant escalation in the state’s security situation.
Shehu described Justice Bunza as a peaceful and humble man who had no known enemies.
“Justice Faruku is a peace-loving man. He has not offended anyone. Whenever he is not sitting at the High Court in Birnin Kebbi, he stays quietly at his home in Bunza.
“He hardly goes to the market. Whenever he needs to buy something, he remains in the car while one of his children goes into the market to make the purchase.
“We are appealing to the government and security agencies to do everything possible to rescue him. His wives, children and the entire family are deeply worried about his whereabouts,” he said.
Ahmed Idris, the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Nasir Idris, said the state government was working closely with security agencies to secure the judge’s release.
“The governor has directed security personnel to intensify efforts to rescue him. The police have already deployed officers to track his abductors and ensure that he returns home safely. We are optimistic that he will soon be rescued and reunited with his family,” he said.
Justice Faruku Hassan Bunza was born in Bunza Local Government Area of Kebbi State on the 15th November 1960.
His alma mata include Bunza Waje Primary School; Haliru Abdu Teachers College; College of Legal and Islamic Studies, Sokoto and Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto
He was called to the Bar in 1990 after completing the Nigerian Law School in Lagos.
Before his elevation to the bench, Justice Bunza served in different judicial capacities, including magistrate, Chief Magistrate, and Deputy Chief Registrar.
He was appointed as a high court judge in 2012.
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