Kebbi judge reveals where he was held by kidnappers

A judge from Kebbi State High Court, Faruk Bunza, has identified the place where his kidnappers kept him for over a week. He also expressed worry about the lack of security for judges dealing with serious criminal cases.

Mr Bunza said he was held at Dutsen Bandan in Dakin Gari, Suru Local Government Area. This location is about 49 kilometres from his home in Bunza, according to an interview with Weekend Trust.

The judge noted that some of the armed men at the camp lived there with their families. He also claimed that they relied on informants from nearby communities for information.

His story raises questions about whether security agencies knew about this place before. It also raises concerns about how the kidnappers got information about their targets and what protection is available for judges in Kebbi.

Mr Bunza was kidnapped from his home along Zogirma Road in Bunza LGA in the early hours of 26 July. This happened shortly after he returned from Sokoto State.

The police later sent tactical and intelligence teams to find him and his abductors.

Recalling his time in captivity, Mr Bunza mentioned that five armed men came into his house and took him away.

The kidnappers forced him to walk about 25 kilometres barefoot to Tungar Bandan junction. There, they had motorcycles waiting before taking him another 24 kilometres to Dutsen Bandan.

He described the area as a hill behind the National Youth Service Corps camp in Dakin Gari.

A local resident, who wanted to remain anonymous and was quoted by Weekend Trust, described the area as a known hideout. This resident said people had complained about armed activities around the hill in the past.

Mr Bunza said his kidnappers seemed well-informed about him before the incident.

He stated that they showed him pictures of himself and Nura Abdullahi, the chairman of Bungudu Local Government in Zamfara State. They claimed they were told to abduct both men but did not say who gave that order.

Bunza believes that the group had informants watching potential targets and gathering information from communities.

He also mentioned that some young people connected to the group acted as informants and runners for them.

Aside from his experience, Bunza raised serious concerns about security for judges in Kebbi.

He claimed he had a permanent security detail at his home when he was a magistrate and chief magistrate. But he no longer has the same level of security as a high court judge.

He said security is now provided in shifts, even though judges face risks from cases involving kidnapping, banditry, and other violent crimes.

"Every judge should have security at his residence, at least at night," he told Weekend Trust.

Bunza also asked for secure living quarters for judges.

His worries match those raised by the African Judges and Jurists Forum after his kidnapping. They urged Nigerian authorities to improve safety for judges who face increased risks.

Bunza stated that fewer than 20 armed men were at Dutsen Bandan while he was held there.

He described the camp as similar to a small settlement, with some members living there with their families.

The judge said he met two other kidnapped men at the camp and was watched by about five armed men, while others stayed further down the hill.

He argued that the number of armed men he saw was small enough for security forces to deal with if they knew where to find them.

The Kebbi Police Command has not announced any operation at Dutsen Bandan since his release.

Bunza also revealed that his kidnappers followed media reports about his kidnapping and the efforts to secure his release.

He recalled that they showed him a newspaper report about the abduction and talked about information they claimed to have about ransom negotiations.

The judge believes this shows that the group had contacts outside the camp.

His family previously said the kidnappers first demanded ₦200 million but later settled for ₦50 million.

The Kebbi Police Command confirmed Bunza's release and stated that the kidnappers asked for ransom. They also repeated their opposition to paying ransoms.

The command did not say who paid the money.

Bunza thinks that the main reason for his kidnapping was ransom. He also suggested that his position and the kidnappers' view of his wealth made him a target.

Bunza mentioned that two other captives managed to escape from the camp, and most members of the armed group left the area afterward.

According to him, the two men who stayed to guard him left their post, which allowed him to remove his covering and leave the hill.

He said he walked to nearby villages before getting a ride back to Bunza.

He was released and said investigations are ongoing to find those responsible.

Justice Bunza's story leaves many questions unanswered.

It is still unclear whether security agencies have searched Dutsen Bandan since his release. It is also unknown if they knew the location before his kidnapping or if investigators have found any of the informants he mentioned.

It is also not clear if the Kebbi judiciary or security agencies have looked into improving security for judges after the abduction, including the shift system that the judge criticized.

Despite everything, Bunza said that his kidnapping will not stop him from doing his job as a judge.