After spending 77 days in captivity, Hon. Justice Haruna Mshelia, a Borno State High Court judge who was kidnapped by Boko Haram insurgents on June 24, 2024, has been released by his captors.
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The news of his freedom came in the early hours of Sunday, September 8, 2024.
However, Justice Mshelia’s wife, who is a magistrate, and his driver, who is also his cousin, remain in captivity. The three were traveling from Biu to Maiduguri when they were abducted by suspected Boko Haram elements along the Biu-Maiduguri Road.
An earlier message announcing the judge’s release stated, “Alhamdulillah, we have just received the news of the release (from BH captivity), of Justice Haruna Mshelia. May Allah Almighty protect us all from any form of mishap.”
Source said ”Efforts are currently underway to secure the release of Justice Mshelia’s wife and driver, who are still being held hostage by the insurgents”.
The abduction of Justice Mshelia and his companions had raised concerns among the legal community in Nigeria. Last week, human rights activist Chidi Odinkalu took to X (formerly Twitter) to raise the alarm over the incident and the lack of attention it had received from the Nigerian Bar Association (@NigBarAssoc) and the National Judicial Council (@njcNig).
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