Judge Mohammed Muktar Escapes Bandit Attack on Katsina Courtroom

Shari’ah court judge Mohammed Muktar narrowly avoided death or abduction when armed bandits stormed a courtroom in Gwarjo village, Matazu Local Government Area of Katsina State, Nigeria, on Wednesday around midday. The attackers fired indiscriminately, demanded the judge’s whereabouts and threatened to kill him if he returned. Residents said Muktar spotted the gunmen from a distance and slipped out through a window, aided by a commercial motorcyclist before the bandits reached the courtroom. Police spokesperson Abubakar Sadiq Aliyu could not be reached for comment. The incident has heightened fear in a community that has repeatedly suffered bandit attacks.

The assault underscores the growing insecurity in parts of northern Nigeria, where bandit groups target civilians and officials, prompting concerns over the safety of judicial personnel and the rule of law.