The family of Justice Faruk Hassan Bunza of the Kebbi State High Court has disclosed that it paid N50 million to kidnappers to secure his freedom after the judge spent more than a week in captivity.
Justice Bunza was abducted on July 26 after gunmen invaded his residence in Bunza Local Government Area shortly after he returned from Sokoto State.
His release on Monday ended eight days in captivity and was confirmed by the Kebbi State Police Command, the state Ministry of Justice and members of his family.
A relative, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to speak publicly, said the abductors had initially demanded N200 million before agreeing to accept N50 million following prolonged negotiations.
He said the judge was recuperating at home and would address the public after recovering from the ordeal.
"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," the family source said.
The family also thanked the Kebbi State Government, the judiciary, security agencies and residents for their support and prayers during the period of the judge's captivity.
Another family member, who spoke to Hausa-based online platform DCL Hausa, said the ransom was delivered to the kidnappers in a forest more than 70 kilometres from Birnin Kebbi after they issued detailed instructions.
According to the source, the abductors, believed to be five in number, requested five bottles of malt drinks and five bottles of Dudu beverage in addition to the ransom.
"They asked us to bring the drinks while we were on our way. They opened them and drank them in our presence before collecting the money," the source said.
The relative added that the family received information about Justice Bunza's release between 6 a.m. and 7 a.m. on Monday.
According to him, the judge was transported in a commercial vehicle conveying firewood and dropped close to his residence.
"He is hale and hearty. There is nothing unusual about his physical appearance," the source added.
The Kebbi State Police Command, however, maintained that it does not support the payment of ransom.
Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Bashir Usman, said the judge had been reunited with his family and assured that security agencies were working to apprehend those responsible for the abduction.
"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.
The command also appealed to residents to continue providing credible information that could assist in the ongoing investigation.
Justice Bunza was kidnapped when armed men reportedly trailed him to his residence after he returned from Sokoto.
His brother, Malam Shehu Yusuf Bunza, had earlier narrated that the attackers, numbering about seven, confronted the judge as he arrived home.
According to him, the gunmen asked if he was Justice Faruk Bunza. Although he denied his identity, they insisted they knew he was their target.
The brother said the attackers fired gunshots after the judge continued speaking to them. They reportedly demanded access to his rooms and asked for one of his sons before forcing him away on motorcycles.
The incident attracted widespread condemnation from the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), which described the abduction as a direct attack on the judiciary and the rule of law.
In a statement signed by its outgoing President, Mazi Afam Osigwe (SAN), the association said judges must be able to perform their constitutional responsibilities without fear of intimidation or violence.
The NBA urged the government to strengthen security around judicial officers, warning that attacks on judges threaten public confidence in the administration of justice.
The Africa Judges and Jurists Forum (AJJF) also condemned the incident, describing it as an assault on constitutional democracy.
Its Chairperson, Justice Professor Oagile Bethuel Key Dingake, said the protection of judges was essential to preserving judicial independence and maintaining confidence in the justice system.
Justice Bunza's abduction was the second involving a serving judge in Nigeria in recent times, following the kidnapping of Bayelsa State High Court judge, Justice Ebiyerin Umokoro, in June 2025.
Although Kebbi has recorded repeated bandit attacks, most incidents have occurred in communities bordering forests in Niger, Zamfara and parts of Sokoto states. Security observers say the abduction of Justice Bunza in Bunza Local Government Area signals an expansion of the threat into areas previously considered relatively safe.
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