Amed men kidnapped Judge Janet Galadima-Gimba, a customary court judge, and her four sons from their home in the Mahuta area of Kaduna on June 23.
The attackers, estimated to be around 15, struck at night while the judge’s husband, a doctor, was away on duty.
Gloria Ballason, CEO of the House of Justice, condemned the incident and urged authorities to ensure the safe release of the judge and her family.
Tragically, the kidnappers killed the judge’s 14-year-old son, Victor Gimba, in captivity on July 2 after the family failed to meet their ransom demands.
“The abductors, reported to have been about 15, took their captives hostage and demanded a huge sum as ransom,” she said.
“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.”
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, adding that “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 chief executive officer 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 the government, the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), and security agencies to take urgent action and ensure the judge and her children are rescued.
Mansir Hassan, spokesperson of the Kaduna state police command, confirmed the incident.
Hassan said the command was doing its best to rescue the victims.
“Yes, we are trying our best to rescue the victims, and for the boy who was killed, an investigation has since commenced,” Hassan said in a response to inquiries made to him.
