Zamfara Bandit Turji’s N30m
Bandits killed the eldest son of Kaduna State Judge Janet Galadima while demanding a ransom to free her and three other children.
EKO HOT BLOG reports that bandits have killed the eldest son of Janet Galadima, a judge of the Kaduna State Customary Court, while demanding a N300 million ransom to free the judge and her three other children still being held.
Gloria Ballason, Chief Executive Officer of the House of Justice, said in a statement on Wednesday that the judge and her four children were kidnapped by the bandits on Sunday night.
At the time, her husband, a medical doctor, was away on duty.
Ballason explained, “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 the 14-year-old first son of the judge when the ransom demanded could not be obtained.”
Ballason, a human rights lawyer, condemned the attack, citing it as a violation of Article 7 of the United Nations Basic Principles on the Independence of the Judiciary and Section 33 and 14 (2)b of the 1999 Constitution, which guarantees the safety of judges. She described the murder of Victor, the judge’s son, as “grisly and blood-curdling,” saying no parent should endure such horror.
She called on Nigerian security agencies, the Governor of Kaduna State, the Nigeria Bar Association, and the judiciary to act urgently to protect Justice Galadima and her children and ensure justice is served.
The Kaduna State chapter of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA), in a statement by its Public Relations Officer, Dr. Shuaibu Joga, expressed shock over the attack. Dr. Joga reported that the kidnappers initially demanded N300 million but later reduced it to N298 million. Despite informing security agencies and ongoing negotiations, the kidnappers killed the judge’s eldest son to force payment.
Dr. Musa Gimba Dutse, the judge’s husband, is a civil servant with the state primary healthcare board, and his wife is a magistrate. They lack the funds to pay the ransom, and despite efforts, they have been unable to raise the money. The kidnappers continue to demand N298 million and threaten further violence.
Although the Kaduna State government, security agencies, and professional associations are aware of the situation, their efforts have not yet been successful.
As of the time of filing this report, there was no official statement from either the state government or the state police command. The Police Public Relations Officer, Mansir Hassan, ASP, was unreachable, and a text message sent to him went unanswered.
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