Justice Faruk Hassan Bunza of the Kebbi State High Court has recounted his harrowing experience in the hands of bandits, revealing how he was abducted from his home, forced to trek about 25 kilometres barefoot and held captive for eight days.
Bunza, who was abducted from his residence in Bunza Local Government Area of the state on July 26, regained his freedom on August 3 after his family reportedly paid N50m to secure his release.
His ordeal was disclosed on Tuesday by a North-West conflict reporter, Bakastine, in a post on his X handle.
According to the account, five armed men stormed the judge’s residence and whisked him away before forcing him to trek barefoot to the Dutsen Bandan camp.
On arrival at the camp, Bunza reportedly met two other kidnapped Fulani men.
The following day, the bandits showed him photographs of himself and the Chairman of Bungudu Local Government Area of Zamfara State, Nura Umar Abdullahi.
The kidnappers allegedly told the judge that they had been instructed to abduct both men, although they did not reveal the identity of the person behind the order.
Bunza further disclosed that the bandits showed him newspaper reports about his abduction and claimed they knew that N200m had been earmarked for his release.
He said about 20 bandits operated from the camp, relying on informants within neighbouring communities for intelligence while maintaining communication with their families.
The judge also described the level of caution adopted by the kidnappers, saying they warned him against coughing for fear that the sound could expose their location.
Following the payment of N50m by his family, most of the bandits reportedly left the camp, leaving two men behind to guard him.
Bunza said he later overheard the two guards arguing, with one of them suggesting that he should be killed.
According to him, around 5pm, he discovered that the guards had left and that he was alone. He then removed the covering from his face and fled on foot.
The judge eventually reached a nearby village, where he boarded a commercial motorcycle to safety.
His release was later confirmed by the Kebbi State Police Command, his family and the state Ministry of Justice.
Despite the trauma, Bunza said the incident would not discourage him from performing his judicial duties.
“My kidnapping can never deter me from my work. I swear to Almighty Allah, nothing on this earth can change my attitude to work. It will motivate me to double my effort,” he said.