The family of abducted High Court judge in Kebbi State, Justice Faruk Hassan Bunza, has confirmed coughing out a staggering N50 million ransom to secure his freedom from the kidnappers’ den after a week in captivity.
According to family sources, the massive funds’ payout, which ultimately broke a tense deadlock with the ruthless criminal network that held the jurist captive, saw Justice Bunza regaining his freedom on Monday, August 3, 2026, after being held hostage for about eight days.
The agonizing ordeal for the jurist and his relatives began in the quiet, dark hours of Sunday, July 26, when a large group of heavily armed bandits broke into the judge’s private residence in the Bunza Local Government Area and overpowered security to abduct him in a brazen and violent assault.
After ferrying the Judge away into the deep forest, the criminals initially demanded a massive N200 million payout before finally accepting the reduced N50 million sum, alongside some soft drinks, to let him return home safely.
The incident was the second abduction of a serving judge in the country in recent times, after the abduction of a Bayelsa State high court judge, Ebiyerin Umokoro, in June 2025.
His release was confirmed by the Kebbi State Police Command, his family and the State Ministry of Justice with the Police spokesperson, Bashir Usman, saying in a statement that Justice Bunza was released early on Monday and has already reunited safely with his family.
“With the judge now released, the police and other security agencies have intensified investigative efforts to track down the perpetrators and bring them to justice,” the statement said, while also appreciating members of the public and partner security agencies for their support during the operation.
The Command further urged residents to continue providing confidential and actionable information that could assist security agencies in arresting the kidnappers.
One of Justice Bunza’s family members, who spoke on condition of anonymity given the sensitive nature of the issue, confirmed that N50 million was paid to the abductors, adding the released Judge is currently receiving medical attention and recovering at his residence in Bunza.
Offering further insight, the family source disclosed that the kidnappers initially demanded N200 million but later agreed to accept N50 million after days of negotiations throughout the period the judge spent in captivity.
The source said: “We are still attending to him at home since his release on Monday. As you know, he needs time to recover from the trauma he went through. We will address the media when he has fully recovered, and we are ready to speak. We will then share details of his ordeal in the hands of his abductors. As for whether a ransom was paid, I can confirm that N50 million was paid”.
While expressing appreciation to the Kebbi State government, security agencies, the state judiciary and residents of the state for their support, prayers and concern throughout the period of the judge’s abduction, the source further said: “We are grateful to everyone who stood by us during this difficult period, especially the state government, the security agencies, the judiciary and all those who prayed for his safe return.”
Also speaking to an online platform, DCL Hausa, another family member said the abductors, numbering about five, received the ransom on Friday after directing the family to a location deep inside a forest, more than 70 kilometres from Birnin Kebbi.
Disclosing that the kidnappers made an unusual request shortly before the ransom was handed over, the relative said: “While we were on our way to deliver the money, they called and asked us to bring five bottles of malt drinks and five bottles of Dudu drinks. They opened the drinks and consumed them in our presence before collecting the ransom.”
Meanwhile, information available form the family indicated that they received news of the judge’s release between 6 a.m. and 7 a.m. on Monday, with one family member volunteering thus: “We were informed of his release around 6 to 7 a.m. He was brought home in a commercial vehicle conveying firewood and dropped in front of the house.”
Noting that the judge appeared to be in good health, showing no visible signs of any physical distress after regaining his freedom, the source said, “He is hale and hearty. There is nothing unusual about his physical appearance”.
But giving its account of the Judge’s freedom, the Police Command stated that the abductors had made a ransom demand, but it stood firmly against it, stressing: “Although the kidnappers made a ransom demand, the command maintains its firm stance against ransom payment.”
