The Magistrates’ Association of Nigeria (MAN) has made a desperate plea for the release of Magistrate Binta Mshelia, the former chairperson of the Borno State branch of the association, who has remained in captivity for over seven months.
Binta was abducted on June 24, 2024, alongside her husband, Justice Haruna Mshelia, and his driver while traveling to Maiduguri. Their journey took a tragic turn when heavily armed assailants ambushed them along the Borno-Yobe highway. While Justice Haruna was released on September 8, the kidnappers have continued to hold Binta and the driver, raising fears about their fate.
The National President of MAN, Chief Magistrate Saidu Umar, has called on security agencies to intensify their efforts in securing her freedom, emphasizing the deep emotional and psychological toll her prolonged captivity has taken on her colleagues and family.
“It is very disheartening that Her Worship is still in captivity seven months after she was kidnapped. We are all traumatized by her abduction,” Umar stated in an interview with Saturday PUNCH.
He further pleaded directly with the abductors, urging them to show mercy and release her. “We appeal to the security agencies not to relent in their efforts to rescue the chief magistrate. We equally appeal to the abductors to free her. She has suffered enough in their captivity.”
Binta’s continued captivity has sparked outrage within the legal community and beyond, reigniting concerns over the rising wave of kidnappings in Nigeria, particularly the targeting of high-profile individuals and judicial officers. Her abduction underscores the growing insecurity in the northern region, where both civilians and government officials have become prime targets for armed groups.
While security forces have made several high-profile rescues in recent months, the delay in securing Binta’s release raises critical questions about the effectiveness of counter-kidnapping efforts and whether more urgent measures are needed to dismantle criminal networks operating in the region.
With each passing day, the anguish of Binta’s family, colleagues, and well-wishers deepens. The call for justice is growing louder, and pressure is mounting on security agencies to act decisively before another tragedy unfolds.
As Nigeria grapples with the persistent threat of abductions, Binta’s case serves as a grim reminder of the dangers faced by legal practitioners and government officials. The nation watches anxiously, hoping that this ordeal will soon come to an end.
PIONEER NEWS 