BIRNIN KEBBI — Suspected gunmen have abducted Justice Faruku Hassan Bunza, a judge of the Kebbi State High Court, from his residence in Bunza Local Government Area, prompting a coordinated security operation to secure his release. The incident occurred around midnight on Sunday, July 26, shortly after the judge returned to his residence following a trip to neighbouring Sokoto State. According to reports from the judge's family and local officials, the attackers invaded the residence along Zogirma Road and took him away. Other occupants of the house were not physically harmed during the operation. The abduction was immediately reported to the relevant authorities, including the management of the Kebbi State High Court. The incident has generated concern within the legal community because the victim is a serving judicial officer and the attack occurred at his private residence. The Kebbi State Police Command confirmed the abduction and said tactical and intelligence personnel had been deployed to locate the judge. Police Commissioner Umar Muhammad Hadejia directed security operatives to intensify efforts to find the abductors and secure Bunza's safe release. Personnel were deployed to identified locations and surrounding forest areas as investigators attempted to establish the movements of the attackers after the abduction. The Nigerian Bar Association condemned the incident, describing the abduction as an attack on the judiciary and the administration of justice. The association called for the immediate and unconditional release of the judge and urged the Kebbi State Government to work closely with federal security agencies. It also called for stronger security arrangements for judicial officers across Nigeria, noting that judges must be able to carry out their constitutional responsibilities without being exposed to threats from criminal groups. The incident adds to wider concerns about insecurity in parts of north-western Nigeria, where armed groups have carried out kidnappings, attacks on rural communities and other criminal activities. Kebbi shares borders with areas that have experienced persistent banditry, creating security challenges for communities and government institutions. Kidnapping has also increasingly affected professionals and public officials, demonstrating the ability of criminal groups to target individuals beyond rural farming communities. Security agencies face significant challenges when responding to such incidents. Criminal groups often operate in difficult terrain and can move victims between locations, making rapid intelligence gathering essential. Authorities rely on information from local communities, surveillance operations and intelligence networks to identify possible hideouts and track the movements of abductors. The police said efforts were continuing to locate the judge and bring those responsible to justice. The authorities did not initially identify a group responsible for the abduction. Reports later indicated that the kidnappers had demanded a ransom, although the circumstances surrounding the demand remained part of the ongoing investigation. The police maintained that their priority was to secure Bunza's safe return. The incident has also renewed discussion about the security of judicial officers. Judges handle sensitive cases involving criminal defendants, property disputes, political matters and other issues that can sometimes generate hostility. Protecting members of the judiciary is therefore considered important not only for individual safety but also for maintaining confidence in the justice system. Legal practitioners have repeatedly called for stronger security around courts and for judicial officers working in areas affected by insecurity. For the Kebbi State judiciary, the immediate concern remains the safe return of Justice Bunza. The police and other security agencies are expected to continue their search while investigators work to identify the perpetrators and establish how the operation was carried out. The abduction highlights the continuing security challenges facing northern Nigeria and the need for coordinated action against kidnapping networks. It also places renewed attention on the protection of public officials and judicial officers whose work is essential to the rule of law. As the rescue operation continues, authorities face pressure to secure the judge's release while ensuring that those responsible for the attack are identified and prosecuted.