Gunmen kidnap Kebbi High Court judge

Suspected gunmen have kidnapped a judge in Kebbi State. Justice Faruku Hassan was taken in the Bunza Local Government Area of the state.

The judge was reportedly snatched from his home in Bunza LGA early on Sunday. This happened shortly after he returned from a trip to Sokoto State.

Bashir Usman, the police spokesperson in Kebbi, confirmed the incident to Daily Trust. He said, "I can confirm that Hon. Justice Faruku Hassan Bunza was abducted from his residence in Bunza around midnight."

After hearing about the kidnapping, the Commissioner of Police, Umar Hadejia, quickly sent out tactical and intelligence teams. Their job is to find the kidnappers and ensure the judge is released safely, according to the police spokesperson.

As of now, no group has said they are behind the kidnapping. This incident is the second high-profile kidnapping in the area in just 24 hours. It follows the kidnapping of a local government chairman in nearby Zamfara State.

Armed groups in Northwest Nigeria have been targeting important public figures more and more. This includes judges, local government leaders, traditional rulers, and religious leaders.

Kebbi, Zamfara, Sokoto, and Katsina states have large forest areas that are not well guarded. These forests include Rugu and Kuyambana. Bandits move easily across these state lines, launching attacks before hiding in remote forest areas.