Gunmen Storm Katsina Court in Broad Daylight, Judge Escapes Abduction Attempt
By Bala Salihu Dawakin Kudu
Democracy Newsline, Northern Bureau Chief
July 30, 2026.
KATSINA, Nigeria — Panic gripped residents of Gwarjo town in Matazu Local Government Area of Katsina State after suspected armed bandits reportedly stormed a court premises in broad daylight, firing indiscriminately while searching for the presiding judge in what witnesses described as an attempted abduction.
According to reports received by Democracy Newsline, the attackers arrived at the court during working hours and immediately began shooting into the air and around the premises, causing court staff, litigants, lawyers, and members of the public to flee for safety.
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The primary target of the attack was said to be the presiding judge, Justice Mohammed Muktar, whom the gunmen repeatedly demanded to see as they searched the court complex.
Witnesses said the judge narrowly escaped after noticing the approaching gunmen. Realizing the danger, he reportedly climbed out through a window moments before the attackers reached the courtroom. He was then said to have been quickly evacuated from the area on a commercial motorcycle by a rider who helped him leave before the gunmen could locate him.
One eyewitness recounted that the attackers entered the court while firing sporadically and repeatedly asked, “Where is the judge?” By the time they reached the courtroom, however, the judge had already escaped.
Another witness alleged that the gunmen became visibly angry upon discovering that their intended target had fled. According to the witness, the attackers threatened to kill the judge if he returned to the court to continue hearing cases.
The incident has heightened fears among residents of Gwarjo, a community that has experienced repeated attacks by armed criminal groups in recent years. Many residents say the latest assault underscores the growing insecurity confronting rural communities in parts of Katsina State, where kidnappings, attacks on villages, and assaults on public institutions have become recurring concerns.
Legal practitioners and community leaders have expressed concern that attacks targeting judicial officers could undermine the administration of justice and discourage judges, court workers, lawyers, and litigants from carrying out their responsibilities.
Security analysts have also warned that assaults on courts and other public institutions pose a significant challenge to the rule of law and public confidence in government institutions.
As of the time this report was filed, the spokesperson for the Katsina State Police Command, Abubakar Sadiq Aliyu, had not responded to repeated telephone calls and text messages seeking official confirmation or comments regarding the reported attack.
Authorities are expected to investigate the incident, while residents have called for stronger security measures to protect courts, judicial officers, and vulnerable communities across the state.
(DEMOCRACY NEWSLINE NEWSPAPER 30TH JULY)
