Bandits have killed the eldest son of Janet Galadima, a judge of the Kaduna State Customary Court, while demanding a ransom of N300 million for the release of the judge and her three other children.
The unfortunate incident was disclosed in a statement by Gloria Ballason, Chief Executive Officer of the House of Justice on Wednesday.
She said that the abduction took place on Sunday night.
During the attack, Galadima’s husband, a medical doctor, was away on duty. The bandits, numbering over 15, invaded the judge’s home and took her and her children captive, demanding a substantial ransom.
According to Ballason, on July 2, 2024, the criminal elements shot the judge’s 14-year-old son, Victor, after the family failed to secure the ransom.
She condemned the attack, stressing that it violated Article 7 of the United Nations Basic Principles on the Independence of the Judiciary and sections of the Nigerian Constitution that guarantee the safety of judges.
“The murder of Victor is a grisly and blood-curdling act,” Ballason stated. “No parent deserves the horror of watching their child being killed in such a cold, callous manner.”
She called on Nigerian security agencies, the governor of Kaduna State, the Nigeria Bar Association, and the judiciary to act swiftly to protect Judge Galadima and her remaining children and ensure justice is served.