- The judge’s husband, one Dr. Musa Gimba Dutse, a medical doctor, was said to be away on duty, when the incident happened
A female Kaduna judge and her four children that were abducted on 23 June are still languishing in bandits’ den as their captors continue to subject them to unspeakable horror and brutal dehumanisation.
They were reportedly abducted after a clutch of bandits stormed their residence in the Mahuta area of the state.
The judge’s husband, one Dr. Musa Gimba Dutse, a medical doctor, was said to be away on duty, when the incident happened.
However, news filtered through on Wednesday that the bandits have killed her eldest son and are now demanding for a staggering N300 million to release the judge and her remaining three children.
A human rights lawyer, and Chief Executive Officer of the House of Justice, Gloria Ballason, confirmed the development.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, Ballason disclose ld that the kidnappers have threatened to kill her remaining sons if the ransom was not paid in time.
Ballason said the abductors killed the 14-year-old son of the judge in captivity when the family couldn’t pay the demanded ransom.
According to her, 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.
“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 also 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 and ensure the judge and her children are rescued.
Similarly, the state chapter of the Nigeria Medical Association has issued a statement condemning the incident, while urging the security agencies to rise to the occasion.
NMA’s Public Relations Officer, Dr Shuaibu Joga, expressed shock that the first son was killed to force payment of the said sum.
He said the NMA would be calling for an emergency SEC meeting on Thursday and a press conference to further call on the authorities to expedite action on securing their immediate release and also for the release of their other doctors kidnapped 6 months ago.
“Following the incident, we visited the husband and interacted with him and he informed us that the kidnappers had made a demand of N300 million to secure their release.
“While the security agencies had been informed and negotiations with the kidnappers were ongoing, 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 today 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.
“We call for calm from members and request all to stay safe while we engage the necessary security organs to end this needless wanton evil,” he said.
As of the time of filing this report, there was no official statement from the state government or the state police command