Freed Kebbi judge recognises bandits’ hideout

A Kebbi State High Court judge, Faruk Bunza, has pinpointed the hideout where his abductors held him for over a week, while raising concerns about insufficient security for judicial officers handling sensitive criminal cases.

Mr Bunza stated he was detained at Dutsen Bandan in Dakin Gari, Suru Local Government Area, approximately 49 kilometres from his residence in Bunza, according to an interview published by Weekend Trust.

The judge said some of the armed men at the camp lived there with their families and alleged that the group relied on informants from nearby communities.

His account prompts questions about whether security agencies were previously aware of the location, how the kidnappers gained information about potential targets, and the level of protection given to judicial officers in Kebbi.

Taken 49 kilometres from home

Mr Bunza was abducted from his residence along Zogirma Road in Bunza LGA in the early hours of 26 July, shortly after returning from Sokoto State.

The police later dispatched tactical and intelligence units to hunt for him and his kidnappers.

Recalling his week-plus ordeal, Mr Bunza said five armed men entered his residence and took him away.

The abductors, he added, forced him to walk about 25 kilometres barefoot to Tungar Bandan junction, where they had left motorcycles, before travelling another 24 kilometres to Dutsen Bandan.

The judge described the place as a hill behind the National Youth Service Corps permanent orientation camp in Dakin Gari.

A resident, whose identity was withheld and who was quoted by Weekend Trust, also described the area as a known hideout and said residents had previously complained about suspected armed activity around the hill.

Alleged informant network

Mr Bunza said his abductors appeared to be fully armed with information about him before the incident.

According to him, they showed him photographs of himself and Nura Abdullahi, chairman of Bungudu Local Government in neighbouring Zamfara State.

He said the kidnappers claimed they had been instructed to abduct both men, but did not identify who allegedly gave the instruction.

Bunza said his experience led him to believe that the group had informants watching potential targets and collecting information from communities.

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He also said some younger individuals linked to the group acted as informants and errand runners.

Judge raises security concerns

Beyond his account of captivity, Bunza raised concerns about security arrangements for judges in Kebbi.

He claimed he had permanent security at his residence while serving as a magistrate and later as chief magistrate, but no longer received the same level of residential protection after becoming a high court judge.

According to him, security is now provided in shifts despite the risks judicial officers face from handling 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 called for secure residential quarters for judges.

His concerns reflect those raised by the African Judges and Jurists Forum following his abduction, which urged Nigerian authorities to enhance security measures for judicial officers facing increased risks. risk assessments and coordination between judicial institutions and law enforcement agencies.

Hideout operated like settlement

Bunza stated that fewer than 20 armed men were present at the Dutsen Bandan location while he was detained there.
He described the camp as akin to a small settlement, with some members of the group living there with their families.

The judge said he met two other abducted men at the camp and was guarded by about five armed men, while other members of the group stayed further down the hill.

He argued that the number of armed men he encountered was small enough for security agencies to confront if their location could be identified.

The Kebbi Police Command has not publicly announced an operation at Dutsen Bandan following his release.

Captors monitored reports

Bunza also stated that his abductors tracked media reports about his kidnapping and the progress made in efforts to secure his release.

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

The judge stated this strengthened his belief that the group kept contacts outside the camp.

His family had previously said the kidnappers initially demanded ₦200 million before settling for ₦50 million. Daily Trust reported the family’s account on 4 August.

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The Kebbi Police Command, while confirming Bunza’s release on 3 August, stated that the kidnappers had demanded ransom and reaffirmed its opposition to ransom payments.

The command did not specify who ultimately paid money.

Bunza stated he believed the primary motive for his abduction was ransom. However, he also indicated that his status and the kidnappers’ perception of his wealth might have made him a target.

How he regained freedom

Bunza said two other captives escaped from the camp on 1 August, and most members of the armed group subsequently left the location.

According to him, the two men who had stayed to guard him later abandoned their post, allowing him to remove his covering and leave the hill.

He said he walked to nearby settlements before securing transportation back to Bunza.

He was released and said investigations were continuing to identify and apprehend those responsible.

READ ALSO: 10 police officers, two civilians killed in Kebbi battle with bandits

Questions lingering

Justice Bunza’s account leaves several questions unresolved.

It is unclear whether security agencies have since searched Dutsen Bandan, whether the location was known to them before his kidnapping or whether investigators have identified any of the people he described as informants.

It is also unclear whether the Kebbi judiciary or security agencies have reviewed residential protection for judges following the abduction, including the shift-based arrangement that the judge criticised.

Despite his ordeal, Bunza said the abduction would not deter him from carrying out his judicial duties.