KEBBI — Security expert, Bakatsine, has confirmed the reported abduction of a High Court judge in Kebbi State, Justice Faruk Hassan Bunza.
In a post on his X handle on Sunday, Bakatsine said the incident occurred amid rising insecurity in the northwest.
The reported abduction comes just a day after the reported kidnapping of a local government chairman in neighbouring Zamfara State.
The incident raises fresh concerns about the changing nature of insecurity in the region. For years, armed groups have primarily targeted rural communities, travellers and traditional leaders. The reported abduction of a senior judicial officer suggests that even high-ranking public officials may no longer be beyond their reach.
Whether this reflects a deliberate shift in strategy or an isolated incident, it is likely to intensify questions about intelligence gathering, protective security for public officials and the state’s ability to deter increasingly audacious attacks.
As at press time, the Kebbi State Police Command and the Nigeria Police Force had not issued an official statement on the incident.
The development has also raised questions on immediate steps authorities should take to restore public confidence and stay ahead of the evolving threat.
