In a distressing incident, Justice Haruna Mshelia, a judge of the Borno State High Court, was abducted along with his wife and orderly. The kidnapping occurred while they were traveling from Biu in Southern Borno to Maiduguri. This alarming event was confirmed by the Public Relations Officer of the Borno State Command, Kenneth Daso, during a conversation with reporters.
According to Daso, the divisional police officer of the Biu Division received a report from Sani Audu, a relative of Justice Mshelia, on Monday. Audu informed the police that the judge was kidnapped at Gujba town, a border area between Yobe and Borno State, at around 9 a.m. The police spokesman also noted that two other commercial vehicles, carrying an unspecified number of passengers, were abducted along with the judge and his party.
The police are still investigating the incident and have not yet confirmed whether the abductors are Boko Haram terrorists, although they were described as heavily armed. As of now, the kidnappers have not made any contact with Justice Mshelia’s family, leaving them in a state of anxious uncertainty.
Daso expressed concern about the increasing rate of abductions along this route, citing a similar incident from last year where a student was kidnapped at the same location and remains missing. Additionally, sources revealed that a retired civil servant from Borno was abducted along the Damaturu-Biu Road two weeks ago, with no subsequent trace.
Gujba, where the abduction took place, is located along the Damaturu-Biu road, approximately 60 kilometers from Damaturu, the capital of Yobe State. This area is notably the hometown of Yobe State Governor, Mai Mala Buni, and hosts significant military installations including the Nigerian Army Special Forces training camp at Buni Yadi. The region borders Buratai town in Biu LGA, Borno State, which is home to the Army Institute of War Studies and an army brigade command near the special forces training camp.
This incident underscores the ongoing security challenges in the region, where the threat of kidnapping and militant activity remains high. The local communities, already grappling with the effects of long-term conflict and instability, now face the added fear of abductions, which disrupts their daily lives and exacerbates their vulnerabilities. The authorities are expected to intensify their efforts to rescue Justice Mshelia and the other kidnapped individuals, while also seeking long-term solutions to enhance security and prevent such incidents from recurring.
The abduction of a high-profile figure like Justice Mshelia highlights the pervasive insecurity in the region and the urgent need for reinforced security measures. It also calls attention to the plight of other less-publicized victims who suffer similar fates, often without the same level of attention or response. The government and security agencies must work collaboratively to address these security lapses and restore safety and confidence to the affected communities.
