A Shari’ah court judge, Mohammed Muktar, narrowly escaped death or abduction on Wednesday after suspected bandits stormed his courtroom in Gwarjo village, Matazu Local Government Area of Katsina State.
The armed men reportedly invaded the court around midday, firing shots and frantically demanding to know the whereabouts of the judge.
But before the attackers could reach him, Muktar reportedly spotted the gunmen approaching and made a dramatic escape through a courtroom window.
A resident said the bandits stormed into the courtroom, shooting and repeatedly asking where the judge was, only to discover that he had already fled.
The resident said a commercial motorcyclist then came to the judge’s rescue, helping him speed away from the area before the attackers could catch up with him.
The gunmen were reportedly enraged when they realised that Muktar had escaped.
They allegedly threatened to kill the judge if he dared return to Gwarjo to continue presiding over court proceedings.
The attack has sparked fresh fear among residents, with Gwarjo reportedly facing repeated attacks by suspected bandits in recent times.
