Bandits have released the children of kidnapped Kaduna Judge, Janet Gimba, after 15 days in captivity according to the PUNCH report.
It remains unclear whether the N150 million ransom demanded by the kidnappers was paid.
There has been no official confirmation from either the state government or the Nigeria Police.
However, the Chairman of the Kaduna Branch of the Nigerian Bar Association, Godwin Ochai, confirmed the release of the children on Tuesday.
Ochai expressed his gratitude, saying, “We thank God and everyone who stood by the family throughout this trying time.”
Details of their release are still unclear at this time.
Earlier reports revealed that the eldest son of the judge, 14-year-old Victor, was killed by the bandits. The State Police Command’s Public Relations Officer, ASP Mansir Hassan, said, “The hoodlums killed the 14-year-old eldest son of the judge, Victor.”
Following the kidnapping, police and other security agencies worked tirelessly to rescue the victims and apprehend the terrorists.
Human rights lawyer and Chief Executive Officer of the House of Justice, Gloria Ballason, stated that Judge Janet Gimba and her four children were kidnapped by bandits on Sunday. Ballason explained, “The abductors, reported to have been about 15, took their captives hostage and demanded a huge sum as ransom.”
Ballason also highlighted the tragic death of Victor, saying, “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.” She described his murder as “grisly and blood-curdling,” and emphasized that no parent should endure the horror of watching their child being killed in such a manner.
She called on Nigerian security agencies, the Governor of Kaduna State, the Nigeria Bar Association, and the Judiciary to urgently protect the lives of the judge and her children and ensure justice is served.
