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[SITUATION] · [QUIET] · [CRIME]

2 clusters · 14 sources · 8 days · First seen · Last updated

Kebbi State judge kidnapping

Overview

In late July 2026, Justice Faruku Hassan Bunza of the Kebbi State High Court was seized from his home in the Bunza area by armed men identified as bandits. The kidnapping prompted an immediate response from the Kebbi State police, which deployed tactical and intelligence teams to search forested areas and other likely hide‑outs.

About a week later, the judge was released and returned home. Authorities did not disclose details of the rescue, any ransom payment, or arrests. The incident was noted as part of a growing pattern of kidnappings targeting officials in north‑west Nigeria, leading to renewed calls for stronger protection of judges and intensified security operations by the federal government.

Entities

Kebbi State High Court · Justice Faruku Hassan Bunza · Bashir Usman · Nigerian security agencies · Kebbi State Police Command

Timeline

  1. 25 days ago

    [CRIME] 8 sources
    Kebbi Judge Faruku Hassan Bunza Freed After Week-Long Kidnapping

    Kebbi High Court Judge Faruku Hassan Bunza was kidnapped for a week and released, prompting thanks to security forces and renewed calls for better protection of officials in north‑west Nigeria.

  2. about 1 month ago

    [CRIME] 5 sources
    Kebbi High Court Judge Faruku Hassan Bunza Abducted by Gunmen

    Justice Faruku Hassan Bunza was kidnapped from his Bunza home in Kebbi State, Nigeria, early Sunday. Police have launched a tactical search to rescue the judge.

Sources

dailytrust.com.ng · dubawa.org · fellowpress.com · insidebusiness.ng · newscentral.africa · nnn.ng · osundefender.com · platinumpost.ng · tgnews.com.ng · thecitizenng.com · thenicheng.com · thepodiummedia.com · tribuneonlineng.com · von.gov.ng