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Akinwande Soji-Ojo
Gunmen have rabducted Janet Galadima-Gimba, a customary court judge, alongside her four sons in Kaduna State.
The judge and her sons were reportedly abducted at their residence in Mahuta area of Kaduna State on June 23.
The abductors, numbering up to 15, were said to have invaded the residence of the judge at night when her husband, Musa Gimba Dutse,a medical doctor, was away on duty.
Reacting to the development in a statement on Wednesday, human rights lawyer and Chief Executive Officer of the House of Justice, called for the protection of the judge and her family.
Ballason said the abductors killed the 14-year-old son of the judge in captivity after the family failed to pay thedemanded ransom.
She said the boy, identified as Victor Gimba, the first son of the judge, was shot dead on July 2.
“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 Victor Gimba, the first child of the judge, when the ransom demanded could not be obtained,” she said.
The bandits were said to have demanded a N300 million ransom for their release and had threatened to start killing their victims one after the other if payment was delayed.
Ballason condemned the abduction and the murder, saying, “judicial officers under Article 7 of the United Nations Basic Principles on the Independence of the Judiciary deserve protection and adequate security to enable them to carry out their judicial functions.”
She said the Nigerian state has a constitutional mandate under section 33 and 14(2)b of the 1999 Constitution to guarantee and ensure the safety of the judge, her family, and all citizens.
The lawyer described the death of the boy as “’grisly and blood-curdling,” adding that no parent deserves to watch their child being killed in such a manner.
She called on government, the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), and security agencies to take urgent action and ensure the judge and her children are rescued.
Also, the Kaduna State chapter of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA), in a statement by its Public Relations Officer, Dr Shuaibu Joga, said it received with rude shock the attack on the spouse of one of the association’s members.
“Following the incident, we visited and interacted with him (Dr. Musa Gimba Dutse) and he informed us that the kidnappers had made a demand of N300m to secure their release. While the security agencies had been informed and negotiations with the kidnappers were ongoing, we received the shocking news today that the first son was killed to force payment of the said sum.
“In response, we are calling for an emergency SEC meeting today and a press conference to further call on the authorities to expedite action on securing their immediate release and also release of our other doctor colleague kidnapped six months ago.
“We call for calm from members and request all to stay safe while we engage the necessary security organs to end this needless wanton evil,” Joga said.
The Kaduna State Police Command spokesperson, Mansir Hassan, confirmed the incident.
He said the command was doing its best to rescue the victims.
“We are trying our best to rescue the victims, and for the boy who was killed, an investigation has since commenced,” he said.
