By our reporter
Justice Faruk Hassan Bunza of the Kebbi State High Court has recounted his nine days in captivity at the hands of bandits. He said the ordeal tested his physical stamina and, more deeply, his spiritual strength as he lived under constant guard with no idea of what each new day would bring.
The most painful part, Bunza said, he was praying alone. Throughout his captivity he performed all five daily prayers by himself. The kidnappers did not observe the obligatory prayers, so each call to prayer found him standing in devotion without a congregation, cut off from the communal worship he was used to.
Denied access to water and privacy, Bunza said he performed tayammama — purification with soil — instead of ablution. The lack of basic amenities forced him to improvise a sacred rite under harsh conditions, a reality far removed from the dignity and order of the courtroom.
“Even during prayer and moments of reflection, armed men watched him” added.
Bunza explained that safety, comfort, and peace were absent. The constant presence of the bandits created tension and fear, with no guarantee of what the next hour would hold.
Bunza, noted a painful contradiction in the camp. He could hear about five of the kidnappers reciting verses of the Glorious Qur’an while on duty, yet they did not perform the five daily prayers. Hearing scripture without seeing its practice deepened his sense of spiritual deprivation.
The judge said the experience brought heavy psychological and spiritual strain. Being surrounded by violence while occasionally hearing Qur’an created a tense mix of fear and faith. In that moment, he said, he learned the true meaning of tawakkali — placing complete trust in Allah during trials.
Despite the conditions, Bunza refused to abandon his worship. He said prayer and reliance on Allah became his anchor, the one thing his captors could not take. That resolve, he noted, carried him through the uncertainty and gave him strength to endure.
Since his release, Bunza has returned to judicial duties, saying the experience strengthened rather than broke his commitment to service. His account, however, also highlights a wider problem: many kidnapping victims face not just physical danger, but spiritual deprivation, lack of hygiene, and psychological pressure. Bunza’s story shows how captives struggle to preserve both faith and humanity in the most dehumanizing circumstances.
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