The kidnappers of Kebbi State High Court judge, Justice Faruk Hassan Bunza, reportedly demanded five bottles of malt and five bottles of Dudu drinks before collecting a ₦50 million ransom and releasing their victim.
Justice Bunza was abducted by heavily armed bandits in the early hours of Sunday, July 26, after they stormed his residence in Bunza Local Government Area of Kebbi State.
He was held hostage for eight days before regaining his freedom on Monday.
But details of how the judge was released have revealed a bizarre twist.
₦200M DEMAND SLASHED TO ₦50M
A member of the judge’s family has reportedly revealed that the kidnappers initially demanded a staggering ₦200 million ransom.
After days of negotiations, however, the abductors reportedly reduced their demand to ₦50 million.
The family eventually paid the money to secure the judge’s freedom.
The source, according to Daily Trust confirmed that the judge was now back home in Bunza and receiving attention as he recovered from the trauma.
“We are still attending to him at home since his release on Monday. As you know, he needs time to recover from the trauma he went through,” the family member reportedly told the publication.
The source, according to the report added that the family would speak publicly about the judge’s ordeal after his full recovery.
“As for whether a ransom was paid, I can confirm that N50 million was paid,” the source was also quoted as saying.
‘BRING US MALT AND DUDU!’
The ransom handover reportedly came with an unusual condition.
According to another family member, the kidnappers called while the ransom was being taken to them and ordered the family to bring five bottles of malt drinks and five bottles of Dudu drinks.
The abductors allegedly opened the drinks and consumed them in the presence of the family before collecting the ransom.
“While we were on our way to deliver the money, they called and asked us to bring five bottles of malt drinks and five bottles of Dudu drinks. They opened the drinks and consumed them in our presence before collecting the ransom,” the family member reportedly said.
GUNMEN STORMED JUDGE’S HOME
The attackers reportedly stormed Justice Bunza’s residence on Zogirma Road shortly after he returned from a trip to Sokoto.
They whisked him away at gunpoint and disappeared into the night.
His abduction triggered a security operation as the police and other security agencies launched efforts to locate and rescue him.
After eight days in captivity, the judge was finally released and reunited with his family.
POLICE HUNT ABDUCTORS
The Kebbi State Police Command confirmed Justice Bunza’s release.
Police spokesperson, Bashir Usman, said the judge was released early Monday and had safely returned to his family.
“With the judge now released, the police and other security agencies have intensified investigative efforts to track down the perpetrators and bring them to justice,” the command said.
The police also appealed to residents to provide confidential and actionable information that could help security agencies track down the kidnappers.
Justice Bunza’s abduction is the second reported kidnapping of a serving High Court judge in recent times, following the abduction of Bayelsa State High Court judge, Justice Ebiyerin Umokoro, in June 2025.
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