Gunmen abduct female judge, four sons in Kaduna

Gunmen have reportedly abducted Janet Galadima-Gimba, a customary court judge, alongside her four sons in Kaduna.

The judge and her sons were reportedly abducted at their residence in the Mahuta area of Kaduna on June 23.

The abductors, numbering up to 15, invaded the residence of the judge at night when her husband, a medical doctor, was away on duty.

Reacting to the development in a statement on Wednesday, Gloria Ballason, chief executive officer of the house of justice, called for the protection of the judge and her family.

Ballason said the abductors killed the 14-year-old son of the judge in captivity after the family failed to pay the demanded ransom.

She said the boy, identified as Victor Gimba, the first son of the judge, was shot dead on July 2.

“The abductors, reported to have been about 15, took their captives hostage and demanded a huge sum as ransom,” she said.

“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.”

The bandits were said to have demanded a N300 million ransom for their release and had threatened to start killing their victims one after the other if payment was delayed.

Ballason condemned the abduction and the murder, adding that “judicial officers under Article 7 of the United Nations Basic Principles on the Independence of the Judiciary deserve protection and adequate security to enable them to carry out their judicial functions”.

She said the Nigerian state has a constitutional mandate under section 33 and 14(2)b of the 1999 Constitution to guarantee and ensure the safety of the judge, her family, and all citizens.

The chief executive officer described the death of the boy as “’grisly and blood-curdling,” adding that no parent deserves to watch their child being killed in such a manner.

She called on the government, the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), and security agencies to take urgent action and ensure the judge and her children are rescued.

Mansir Hassan, spokesperson of the Kaduna state police command, confirmed the incident.

Hassan said the command was doing its best to rescue the victims.

“Yes, we are trying our best to rescue the victims, and for the boy who was killed, an investigation has since commenced,” Hassan said in a response to inquiries made to him.