A Shari’ah Court judge, Mohammed Muktar, narrowly escaped death or abduction on Wednesday after suspected bandits invaded a courtroom in Gwarjo village, Matazu Local Government Area of Katsina State, in a brazen attack that has heightened concerns over the safety of judicial officers and public institutions in Nigeria’s troubled North West.
The attack, which occurred around midday, saw heavily armed men storm the court premises, firing sporadically and demanding to know the whereabouts of the judge.
However, Muktar reportedly escaped through a window moments before the assailants entered the courtroom, narrowly avoiding what residents believe would have been a fatal encounter or another high-profile abduction.
“The bandits entered the courtroom, shooting indiscriminately and repeatedly asking where the judge was. Fortunately, he had already escaped through the window, and a commercial motorcyclist helped him flee before they arrived,” the resident said.
Witnesses said the gunmen became enraged after discovering that the judge had escaped.
According to another resident, the attackers threatened to kill the judicial officer if he returned to preside over court proceedings in the community.
The incident has heightened anxiety in Gwarjo, a community that has experienced repeated attacks by armed bandits in recent years.
The attack also raises fresh concerns about the safety of judicial officers and other public servants working in rural communities affected by persistent insecurity, with courts increasingly operating under the shadow of violence.
Residents said the brazen assault underscores the growing security challenges facing institutions meant to uphold law and order in vulnerable parts of the country.
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 phone calls or text messages seeking comment.
The latest attack adds to a series of bandit assaults across Katsina State, where armed groups have continued to target villages, public institutions, and travellers despite ongoing security operations.
