Suspected bandits in Kaduna State have demanded a ransom of N300 million for the release of a kidnapped female judge and her four children, following the tragic killing of her eldest son.
Details of the Abduction
The
judge and her sons were abducted from their residence in the Mahuta area of
Kaduna on June 23. The kidnappers, reportedly numbering 15, invaded the home at
night while her husband, Dr. Musa Gimba Dutse, a medical doctor, was on duty.
Ransom Demand and Tragic Outcome
Human
rights lawyer and Chief Executive Officer of the House of Justice, Gloria
Ballason, confirmed that the kidnappers have threatened to kill the remaining
sons if the ransom is not paid promptly. The bandits killed the judge's
14-year-old son, Victor Gimba, on July 2 when the ransom was not met.
"The
abductors, about 15 in number, 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,"
Ballason stated.
Calls for Action
Ballason
has 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 to ensure their rescue.
The
Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) has also condemned the incident. Dr. Shuaibu
Joga, the NMA's Public Relations Officer, expressed shock over the killing of
the first son to coerce ransom payment. The NMA plans to hold an emergency SEC
meeting and a press conference to call for expedited action on the release of
the judge and her children, as well as other doctors kidnapped six months ago.
Statements and Reactions
Dr.
Joga highlighted the situation: "Following the incident, we visited the
husband, who informed us that the kidnappers had demanded N300 million for
their release. While security agencies were informed and negotiations were
ongoing, we received the shocking news today that the first son was killed to
force payment of the ransom."
The
NMA is calling for calm among its members and urging everyone to stay safe
while engaging with security agencies to end this crisis.
Official Statements
As of the time of filing this report, there has been no official statement from the Kaduna State government or the state police command.
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