The family of a Kebbi State High Court judge, Justice Faruk Hassan Bunza, who was kidnapped from his residence and released after a week, has confirmed paying N50 million ransom to secure the release.

Justice Bunza was abducted in the early hours of Sunday, July 26, when heavily armed bandits stormed his residence in Bunza Local Government Area of Kebbi State.

The incident was the second abduction of a serving judge in the country in recent times, after the abduction of a Bayelsa State high court judge, Ebiyerin Umokoro, in June 2025.

Justice Bunza regained his freedom on Monday after spending eight days in captivity.

His release was confirmed by the Kebbi State Police Command, his family and the state Ministry of Justice.

The police spokesperson in the state, Bashir Usman, said in a statement that the judge was released earlier on Monday and had reunited safely with his family.

“With the judge now released, the police and other security agencies have intensified investigative efforts to track down the perpetrators and bring them to justice,” the statement said.

The command also appreciated members of the public and partner security agencies for their support during the operation.

It urged residents to continue providing confidential and actionable information that could assist security agencies in arresting the kidnappers.

In a report, a member of Justice Bunza’s family, who spoke on condition of anonymity confirmed N50 million was paid to the abductors.

He said the judge was receiving attention and recovering at his residence in Bunza.

According to the family member, the kidnappers initially demanded N200 million but later agreed to accept N50 million after days of negotiations throughout the period the judge spent in captivity.

“We are still attending to him at home since his release on Monday. As you know, he needs time to recover from the trauma he went through.

“We will address the media when he has fully recovered, and we are ready to speak. We will then share details of his ordeal in the hands of his abductors. As for whether a ransom was paid, I can confirm that N50 million was paid,” the source said.

The source also expressed appreciation to the Kebbi State government, security agencies, the state judiciary and residents of the state for their support, prayers and concern throughout the period of the judge’s abduction.

“We are grateful to everyone who stood by us during this difficult period, especially the state government, the security agencies, the judiciary and all those who prayed for his safe return,” he said.

Another family member, who spoke to the Hausa online platform, DCL Hausa, said the abductors, believed to be about five in number, received the ransom on Friday after directing the family to a location deep inside a forest, more than 70 kilometres from Birnin Kebbi.

According to the relative, the kidnappers made an unusual request shortly before the ransom was handed over.

“While we were on our way to deliver the money, they called and asked us to bring five bottles of malt drinks and five bottles of Dudu drinks. They opened the drinks and consumed them in our presence before collecting the ransom,” the source said.

The family said it received news of the judge’s release between 6 a.m. and 7 a.m. on Monday.

“We were informed of his release around 6 to 7 a.m. He was brought home in a commercial vehicle conveying firewood and dropped in front of the house,” the family member said.

According to the source, the judge appeared to be in good health and showed no visible signs of any physical distress after regaining his freedom.

“He is hale and hearty. There is nothing unusual about his physical appearance,” the source added.

However, the police command said the judge abductors made a ransom demand, but it stood firmly against it.

“Although the kidnappers made a ransom demand, the command maintains its firm stance against ransom payment,” the police said.

The United States has introduced a new rule allowing asylum applications to be referred to immigration judges without applicants first undergoing an interview, in a move aimed at reducing the country’s growing asylum backlog.

The change was announced by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) following a statement from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

Under the existing system, USCIS handles “affirmative” asylum applications filed by individuals who are not in removal proceedings, while Department of Justice (DOJ) immigration judges adjudicate “defensive” asylum claims involving those already in removal proceedings

Depending on an applicant’s immigration status, USCIS may either decide an asylum application or refer it to an immigration judge. In cases referred to a judge, the application can undergo another review, which DHS says can effectively give an applicant a second opportunity to seek asylum.

The new interim final rule permits USCIS to refer asylum applications directly to immigration judges without first interviewing the applicant.

According to DHS, the change is expected to reduce the overall time required for asylum officers and immigration judges to process cases, while helping USCIS tackle the backlog.

USCIS Director Joseph Edlow said the asylum system had been used by some applicants for purposes other than seeking protection.

“For far too long the asylum system has been exploited for purposes of delay and work authorization, not legitimate claims of protection,” said USCIS Director Joseph Edlow. “America’s asylum system exists to protect individuals who genuinely fear persecution and this rule will help ensure that resources are directed to the timely adjudication of those claims instead of to those seeking to use the system as a loophole.”

DHS General Counsel James Percival said delays in immigration proceedings had also created difficulties for enforcement efforts.

“One of the greatest barriers to effective immigration enforcement is intentional delay by illegal aliens and the open borders attorneys who represent them,” said DHS General Counsel James Percival.

“My office works every day with the immigration components of DHS to improve efficiency and fulfill the President’s mandate. The rule would do just that.”

The new rule takes effect immediately. USCIS will accept public comments on the interim rule before issuing a final version that responds to the feedback received.

At least six soldiers and 12 others were reportedly killed at the weekend, by gunmen suspected to be terrorists who attacked Kasuwar Daji in Kaura-Namoda Local Government of Zamfara State and Lajinge village in Sabon-Birni Local Government Area of Sokoto State.

No fewer than 75 persons were also abducted in the Zamfara attack, while a man and his two sons were burnt alive in the building they ran into, seeking refuge.

Report says the suspected terrorists attacked Kasuwar Daji community around 11:30 pm on Saturday night after over running the military outpost station in the area.

The report also alleged that six soldiers were killed, while over 70 people were abducted and taken into the bush.

A resident, who identified himself as Alhaji Aminu Kasuwar Daji, was quoted in the report as saying that the terrorists who stormed the community in large numbers, immediately started shooting sporadically to overrun the military outpost in the area.

“Our calls to Zamfara State and the federal government is to come to the aide of Zamfara people generally on this insecurity bedivelling the state.

‘’We really in danger if terrorists can overpower the military and succeed in their attacks on innocent citizens,” Aminu Kasuwar Daji said.

Similarly, the former deputy speaker of the state House of Assembly, Namadi Kasuwar Daji, also confirmed the attack of his community and abduction of unspecified number of residents.

According to him, though he was not around as he travelled out of the state, his relatives called and told him about the attack.

”I was told that the terrorists even killed soldiers but I was not told the actual number, again I was told that the terrorists, after looting shops for foodstuffs, drinks and other properties, also abducted unspecified number of residents whom they took to the bush,’’ he said.

On the Sokoto attack, no fewer than 12 persons were killed, six of whom were burnt alive, after suspected terrorists attacked Lajinge village in Sabon Birni Local Government Area.

Residents said the attackers invaded the community at about 11pm on Saturday and operated until around 3:30 am yesterday without any security intervention.

A resident, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said 11 of the victims died from gunshot wounds, while a woman identified as Agada died after suffering severe shock during the attack.

According to him, six people were burnt alive after the gunmen surrounded a room they had taken refuge.

“They ordered those inside to come out but they refused. The attackers then poured petrol on the room and opened fire. When those inside attempted to escape through the door, they kept shooting at them. Their bodies were left inside the burning room,” he said.

He identified those killed in the fire as head of the household, Mallam Wauro (popularly known as Mallam Roro); his two sons, Ukasha and Mujaheed; two other relatives identified as Sufyanu and Sani Shanbami; as well as an internally displaced person, IDP, who had been taking shelter in the house.

The source added that another victim, Lawwali, was shot dead at the entrance of the same house, while trying to flee, bringing the death toll in the compound alone to seven.

He said the remaining victims were shot while attempting to escape from the village. They include Yusuf and three internally displaced persons who had sought refuge in Lajinge.

Another resident, who participated in the community’s local vigilante operation on the night of the attack, said they were keeping watch near the village primary school when the gunmen struck.

“We were at the primary school guarding the village when we suddenly heard heavy gunfire. We all ran for safety and kept moving from one hiding place to another whenever the shooting came closer,” he said.

He said after overpowering the local vigilantes, the attackers moved freely through the village, going from house to house while rustling cattle and sheep.

“They stationed one of their rifles in a strategic location that kept firing while the others entered houses to steal livestock,” he said.

He added that the attackers later moved to another part of the village where they attacked Mallam Wauro’s residence, killing him and two of his sons, abducting his two wives and carting away all his cattle.

Residents said they could not immediately establish the exact number of abducted persons, explaining that although many villagers were taken away, some, especially children, were later released by the gunmen.

The villagers lamented that despite the attack lasting about four hours, no security reinforcement arrived.

“The bandits stayed in our village for hours without any intervention. They even walked along the main road laughing and smoking cigarettes as if they had conquered the community,” one of the residents said.

They alleged that security personnel stationed in Unguwar Lalle and Dan Tudu communities, both located about two kilometres from Lajinge, did not respond to repeated distress calls throughout the attack.

The residents said community leaders had repeatedly appealed to the government to deploy security personnel to the area but lamented that their requests had not been granted.

They added that eight people were also killed in the community about three weeks ago.

“We are Nigerians and we have voter cards. We elected the government to protect our lives and property. We are pleading with the authorities to deploy security personnel to safeguard our communities,” one resident appealed.

When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Ahmad Rufai, said he was not aware and was on transit and would verify the incident upon reaching his office, but didn’t reach out before press time, the report said.