After 15 Days in Captivity, Abducted Children of Kaduna Judge Regain Freedom

John Shiklam in Kaduna

The remaining three children of Janet Gimba, the Kaduna customary court judge, who were held captive by bandits, have been freed after 15 days in captivity.

Chairman of the Kaduna branch of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Godwin Ochai, said the children were released yesterday. 

Family sources also confirmed the release in a telephone chat.

The judge and her four children were abducted when the bandits stormed their residence in Mahuta, a suburb of Kaduna metropolis, on June 23.

Her husband, a medical doctor, was said to have been away on duty when the criminals struck in the night.

One of the children, a 14 year old boy was killed in captivity by the bandits when the family could not raise the N298m ransom demanded by the bandits within their stipulated time.

On July 3, nine days after being in captivity, the bandits released the judge, holding the three children captive.

The ransom was said to have been reduced to N150m and the judge was asked to pay within three days or the children will be killed.

Family and friends of the judge had taken to social media platforms to solicit for help from well-meaning Nigerians.

But details of how the children were released were not disclosed.