Justice Faruku Hassan Bunza of the Kebbi State High Court has been abducted by suspected bandits following an overnight attack on his residence in Bunza Local Government Area of the state.
The incident occurred around midnight on Sunday at the judge's home along Zogirma Road, shortly after he returned from a trip to Sokoto, according to sources familiar with the development.
A source disclosed that the armed men stormed the residence, fired sporadically to intimidate residents, and whisked the judge away. No injuries were reported during the attack.
"He had just returned from Sokoto when the gunmen invaded his residence and abducted him. After the incident, we immediately alerted the relevant authorities, including the leadership of the High Court," the source said.
Confirming the abduction, the spokesperson of the Kebbi State Police Command, SP Bashir Usman, said Justice Bunza was kidnapped from his residence in Bunza at about midnight.
According to the police, the Commissioner of Police, CP Umar Muhammad Hadejia, promptly deployed tactical and intelligence teams to launch a rescue operation.
"Our personnel are currently combing identified locations, including forest areas, with the aim of rescuing the judge alive and unharmed," Usman said.
A senior official of the Kebbi State High Court, who requested anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly, described the incident as a deeply troubling development for the judiciary.
"This is a painful moment for us. The abduction of one of our judges from his residence is deeply disturbing," the official said.
He added that the management of the Kebbi State High Court has since met with heads of security agencies in the state to coordinate efforts toward securing Justice Bunza's immediate release.
As of the time of filing this report, no individual or group had claimed responsibility for the abduction, while security operatives continue efforts to locate and rescue the judge.
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