A Sharia Court Judge, Mohammed Muktar, narrowly escaped death after armed bandits reportedly invaded a courtroom in Gwarjo village, Matazu Local Government Area of Katsina State, during proceedings on Wednesday.
According to eyewitnesses, the heavily armed attackers stormed the court, firing several gunshots and demanding to know the judge’s whereabouts.
However, Judge Muktar reportedly spotted the approaching gunmen before they entered the courtroom and quickly escaped through a window.
He was later assisted by a commercial motorcycle rider who sped him away from the area before the attackers could reach him.
Witnesses said the bandits entered the courtroom shortly afterwards, firing indiscriminately while repeatedly asking those inside where the judge had gone.
One eyewitness said it was clear the attackers were specifically targeting the judge and that his quick decision to flee saved his life.
After discovering he had escaped, the gunmen reportedly became furious and threatened to kill him if he returned to preside over court sessions in the community.
As of the time of filing this report, the Katsina State Police Command had not issued an official statement on the incident.
Katsina, in Nigeria’s North-West region, has remained one of the states most affected by recurring attacks from heavily armed criminal gangs, with many communities continuing to face growing security challenges.
