In a tragic development, suspected bandits who kidnapped a female judge, Janet Galadima, and her four children in Kaduna State, have demanded a ransom of ₦300 million after killing her eldest son.
The judge, who serves at the Upper Customary Court, Sabon Tasha Division, and her children were abducted from their residence in the Mahuta area of Kaduna on June 23, 2024.
The kidnappers, reportedly numbering around 15, stormed the judge’s home at night while her husband, Dr. Musa Gimba Dutse, a medical doctor, was away on duty. Human rights lawyer and Chief Executive Officer of the House of Justice, Gloria Ballason, confirmed in a statement that the abductors have threatened to kill the remaining children if the ransom is not paid promptly.
Ballason revealed that the kidnappers killed 14-year-old Victor Gimba, the judge’s first son, on July 2 when the family failed to meet the ransom demand. “The abductors, reported to have been about 15, took their captives hostage and demanded a huge sum as ransom.
On Tuesday, July 2, 2024, the terrorists shot dead Victor Gimba, the first child of the judge, when the ransom demanded could not be obtained,” she said.
She called for the protection of the judge and her family, urging the government, the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), and security agencies to take urgent action to ensure their rescue. The Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) in Kaduna State also condemned the incident and called for swift action from security agencies.
NMA’s Public Relations Officer, Dr. Shuaibu Joga, expressed shock over the killing of the judge’s son and highlighted the urgency of the situation. “We received the shocking news today that the first son was killed to force payment of the said sum.
In response, we are calling for an emergency SEC meeting and a press conference to further call on the authorities to expedite action on securing their immediate release and also the release of our other doctor kidnapped 6 months ago,” he stated.
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Confirming the incident, Mansir Hassan, the Spokesman of the Kaduna State Police Command, said the judge and her children were kidnapped from their residence on June 23, 2024.
He added that the police found the body of the judge’s son at Ungwan Bayero of Dutse village near the toll gate along the Kaduna-Abuja Highway on July 2, 2024.
Hassan explained that the Command’s anti-kidnapping squad, in collaboration with other security agencies, is working tirelessly to rescue the judge and her remaining three children and apprehend the bandits responsible for this heinous crime.
This incident underscores the urgent need for enhanced security measures and more effective strategies to combat the increasing threat of banditry and kidnapping in Nigeria.
