Bandits Invade Courtroom, Judge Escapes Through Window

A Shari’ah Court judge, Mohammed Muktar, narrowly escaped death or possible abduction on Wednesday after suspected bandits invaded a courtroom in Gwarjo village, Matazu Local Government Area of Katsina State.

The incident occurred around midday when the armed assailants reportedly stormed the court premises, firing sporadically while demanding to know the judge’s whereabouts.

According to residents, Justice Muktar noticed the approaching gunmen before they reached the courtroom and quickly escaped through a window moments before they arrived.

One resident told Daily Trust that the attackers entered the courtroom and fired indiscriminately while repeatedly asking for the judge.

“The judge had already escaped through the window before they arrived. A commercial motorcyclist quickly helped him flee the area, which saved his life,” the resident said.

Another eyewitness said the bandits became enraged after discovering that the judge had escaped. The attackers reportedly threatened to kill him should he return to preside over court proceedings in the community.

The attack has heightened fear among residents of Gwarjo, a community that has experienced repeated bandit attacks in recent years, raising fresh concerns over the safety of judicial officers and court facilities in insecure areas.

Efforts to obtain an official response from the Katsina State Police Command were unsuccessful, as the command’s spokesperson, Abubakar Sadiq Aliyu, did not respond to telephone calls or text messages seeking comment at the time of filing this report.