Judge Gimba and her four children were abducted by bandits on June 23. While she was freed on Sunday, the bandits demanded N150 million ransom for the release of her children, giving a three-day ultimatum.
On Wednesday, Judge Gimba’s husband, Dr. Musa Gimba, announced that he had been reunited with his three rescued children on Tuesday. Tragically, their eldest child was killed by the kidnappers before Gimba was released.
In his statement, Dr. Gimba expressed his gratitude to the security forces for their exceptional professionalism and bravery in conducting the rescue operation, which was meticulously planned and coordinated by the Office of the National Security Adviser.
He said, “On behalf of my family, I wish to issue this statement to inform the public that yesterday, the 9th day of July 2024, my wife and I were reunited with our three surviving boys. Tragically, during the ordeal that commenced with their abduction on June 23, our eldest child was killed by the kidnappers before the mother was released to secure a ransom of N150 million.
“However, security forces, demonstrating exceptional professionalism and bravery, successfully conducted the rescue operation. Thanks to the meticulous planning and coordination, led by the Office of the National Security Adviser, our three surviving children are now free.
“While we still earnestly grieve the death of our eldest son, whose life was cut short before his prime, we thank God for the opportunity he has given us to be reunited with our surviving children. We want to use this medium to bring some sort of closure to this harrowing and unforgettable experience, that we do not wish on anyone. We also want to use this opportunity to thank all those who, one way or the other, were instrumental in bringing us to this point.”
Dr. Gimba expressed his gratitude to the NSA, Chief of Defence Staff Gen. Christopher Musa, and other security forces involved in the rescue operation, including the Nigerian Army, the Department of Security Services, the Nigerian Police Force, Military Intelligence, and the National Intelligence Agency. He also thanked professional bodies, NGOs, religious bodies, the press, and the social media community for their support.
