Benue State | Gunmen storm courts, hold judge, lawyers hostage

There was pandemonium in Makurdi, Benue state when 10 armed riff raffs with a serious grudge against law courts stormed three courts in the Benue State capital and held a sitting judge hostage.

Unbelievably, they carted away a refrigerator, three stabilisers, a set of computers, window blinds and left behind empty bottles of drinks.

The incident occurred on Wednesday around 8am.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, the gunmen, who shot into the air, caused panic in the capital city as residents fled in various directions.

The 3 courts the gunmen invaded include; Benue State High Court 9, Chief Magistrate’s Court and the Upper Area Court, which, according to eye witnesses. were about 500 meters away from state police headquarters.

It was gathered at the Benue State High Court 9 that the Presiding Judge, Justice Mary Abounu, who is the wife of deputy governor, was already seated when the gunmen stormed her court and held her and the people in her court hostage.

“Actually, the first court the hoodlums visited was the Magistrate’s Court 1. They broke into the courtroom and the chambers, where they carted away one computer, a printer, a generator as well as files for various cases,” said Mr. Isaac Ajim, a magistrate.

Ajim said, “After the criminals were done with my court, they proceeded to High Court 9, presided over by the wife of the deputy governor, Justice Mary Abounu, and carted away a refrigerator, three stabilisers, a set of computer, window blinds and left behind empty bottles of drinks.”

At the Upper Area Court, the registrar, Mrs. Sarah Gboji, described the invaders as robbers, saying, “The thieves made away with N280,000.”

It was also gathered that the criminals after they had wreaked havoc, locked the courtrooms with the padlocks they brought with them.

Confirming the invasion, the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Michael Gusa, who condemned the act, appealed to youths to always engage in meaningful ventures rather than indulge into criminality.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, Moses Yamu, said three security guards had already been invited for interrogation.

He assured that the culprits would be arrested and made to face the wrath of the law.