Abducted Kaduna judge regains freedom without children as bandits demand N150m ransom

By Austine Emmanuel, Kaduna

Bandits have freed abducted Kaduna Judge, Janet Gimba, who was kidnapped alongside her four children on Sunday.

The husband of Janet, Dr. Musa Gimba confirmed the release to newsmen meanwhile he stated that the children are still being held hostage by the insurgents.

Dr. Gimba, also disclosed that the bandits are demanding N150 million ransom for the release of the remaining children within three days while threatening to kill them for failure to pay the money.

Reacting to the ugly incident, the Police Public Relations Officer PPRO Kaduna State Command ASP Mansur Hassan said that the hoodlums killed the 14-year-old eldest son of the judge, Victor.

Mansur stressed that the police operatives found Victor’s corpse at Ungwan Bayero, Duste village near toll gate along the Kaduna-Abuja expressway on Tuesday, July 2, 2024.

He further disclosed that in the wake of the incident, the command and other sister security agencies are working tirelessly to rescue the victims and arrest the terrorists.

Meanwhile, a human rights Lawyer, Gloria Ballason had described the murder of Victor, the 14-year-old son of the Judge as “grisly and blood-curdling,” stating that no parent deserved the horror of watching their child being killed in such a cold, callous manner.

Ballason said, “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 the 14-year-old first son of the judge when the ransom demanded could not be obtained.

The Rights Lawyer called on government, security agencies, the Nigerian Bar Association, (NBA) and the Judiciary to rise to the urgency of the moment for the protection of the lives of the judge and her children and to ensure that the family get the needed justice.