Judge Escapes Through Window as Gunmen Raid Court

Author: Gist Correspondent

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 attack reportedly occurred around midday when the armed assailants stormed the court premises, firing sporadically while demanding to know the whereabouts of the judge.

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

An eyewitness said the attackers shot indiscriminately inside the court while repeatedly asking for the judge. However, a commercial motorcyclist reportedly assisted the judicial officer to flee the area before the gunmen could reach him.

Another resident disclosed that the bandits became enraged after discovering that the judge had escaped and allegedly threatened to kill him should he return to preside over court proceedings in the community.

The incident has further heightened anxiety among residents of Gwarjo, a community that has experienced repeated attacks by armed bandits in recent years, raising fresh concerns over the safety of judicial officers and residents in vulnerable communities.

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 calls or text messages seeking comment as of the time of filing this report.