Bandits collected about ₦50 million, five bottles of malt drink and five packs of fruit juice before releasing abducted Kebbi State High Court judge, Justice Faruku Hassan Bunza, a member of his family has disclosed.
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The family member, who said he personally delivered the ransom to the kidnappers inside a forest, gave the account during a Hausa-language audio interview with DCL Hausa.
According to him, the ransom was handed directly to the armed abductors last Friday, while Justice Bunza regained his freedom on Monday morning after spending the weekend in captivity.
He said the judge was brought to his family residence at about 6 a.m. in a hired vehicle, without any prior telephone call informing the family that he had been released.
“We were at home this morning when a vehicle drove into the compound and dropped him off. It was a hired vehicle,” the relative said.
Asked to confirm that the judge was brought directly to the family home at about 6 a.m., he responded: “Yes, by God’s grace, it was a hired vehicle.”
The relative said approximately five armed bandits were present when the family delivered the ransom deep inside the forest.
“It was the bandits themselves who received it. As I’m speaking to you now, I was the one who delivered the money. I personally took it to them,” he said.
He explained that while they were travelling to the location designated for the payment, the kidnappers contacted them again and demanded refreshments in addition to the ransom.
“There were about five of them. While we were on our way to deliver the money, they called us again. They told us to bring them five bottles of Maltina and five packs of Dudu because they had already opened and finished the soft drinks they had,” he said.
The family member put the amount paid at approximately ₦50 million.
“As for the ransom itself, it was around ₦50 million,” he stated.
He said the family raised the money and ensured that it was delivered directly to the kidnappers rather than to government officials, security operatives or any intermediary.
When asked whether the money was handed to the authorities or directly to the abductors, he reiterated: “It was the bandits themselves who received it. As I’m speaking to you now, I was the one who delivered the money. I personally took it to them.”
According to him, the ransom delivery point was located between 70 and 80 kilometres from Birnin Kebbi, inside a forest believed to serve as one of the armed group’s hideouts.
“From Birnin Kebbi, the journey was about 70 to 80 kilometres, into the forest,” he said.
The relative confirmed that the ransom was delivered on Friday, while the judge remained in captivity throughout Saturday and Sunday before being released on Monday morning.
He said the family received news of the judge’s return between 6 a.m. and 7 a.m., not through a telephone call from the abductors or security agencies, but when the hired vehicle arrived at the family compound.
“We received the news at about 6 a.m. to 7 a.m. this morning. Yes, this Monday,” he said.
Justice Bunza was reportedly taken away by security operatives shortly after arriving at his residence for medical examination, assessment and post-release debriefing.
“He is currently with the security agencies and is undergoing medical examination. They have taken him for a health check and other assessments,” the relative said.
Asked whether he personally saw the judge after his release, the family member replied: “Yes, I saw him with my own eyes.”
He said Justice Bunza appeared to be in good health and had no visible injuries despite his period in captivity.
“He is completely fine. He is in good health. There isn’t even a scratch on his body. He left in good health and has returned in good health,” he stated.
The relative said the family could not say with certainty whether any government official, security agency or other person played a role in securing the judge’s eventual release.
“We cannot say with certainty who secured his release,” he said.
He nevertheless confirmed that the family raised the ransom and personally delivered it to the kidnappers.
“Yes, we raised the money and made sure it was delivered to them,” he added.
The family’s account provides details of the negotiations and ransom delivery process, including the kidnappers’ unusual demand for malt and fruit juice alongside the multimillion-naira payment.
Justice Bunza was ultimately released alive and, according to his family, returned without visible injuries before security operatives took him for medical evaluation and debriefing.
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