Kidnapped Kaduna Judge Released, Three Children Still in Captivity

A judge of the Upper Customary Court in Kaduna State, Janet Gimba, who was kidnapped along with her four children, has been released. However, three of her children remain in the custody of the abductors.

Janet Gimba’s husband, Musa Gimba, confirmed her release but noted that the kidnappers still hold three of their children. The bandits are demanding a ransom of N150 million within three days, threatening to kill the children if the ransom is not paid.

Judge Gimba, who is attached to the Upper Customary Court, Sabon Tasha Division in Kaduna State, was abducted with her four children on June 24, 2024, from their residence in the Mahuta area of Chikun Local Government Area, on the outskirts of Kaduna metropolis.

Tragically, the kidnappers killed the judge’s 14-year-old eldest son, Victor Gimba. Police operatives discovered his body at the Sabon Tasha Division, Ungwan Bayero of Dutse village near the toll gate along the Kaduna-Abuja highway on Tuesday, July 2.

The Kaduna State Police Command’s spokesman, Mansir Hassan, stated that  the Command’s anti-kidnapping squad, in collaboration with other security agencies, is working tirelessly to rescue the remaining victims and apprehend the bandits.

Human rights activist and Chief Executive Officer of the House of Justice, Gloria Ballason, condemned the abduction and murder, describing it as a violation of Article 7 of the United Nations Basic Principles on the Independence of the Judiciary and Sections 33 and 14(2)b of the 1999 Constitution, which guarantees the safety of judges. Ballason called the murder of the judge’s son “grisly and blood-curdling” and urged security agencies to ensure the swift rescue of the remaining hostages.