Judge Escapes Through Window as Bandits Storm Katsina Sharia Court

Judge Escapes Through Window as Bandits Storm Katsina Sharia Court.

Armed Men Invade Courtroom in Matazu LGA, Presiding Officer Narrowly Avoids Abduction

Katsina State, Nigeria – A Sharia court judge in Katsina State escaped being taken by suspected bandits on Wednesday, July 29, after armed men stormed a courtroom in Gwarjo village, Matazu Local Government Area.

Judge Mohammed Muktar was presiding over proceedings when he noticed the attackers approaching the court building. He quickly escaped through a window moments before the gunmen entered the premises .

According to reports, a commercial motorcyclist helped the judge flee from the area, an action that likely saved his life.

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The armed men, upon entering the courtroom, fired shots indiscriminately and repeatedly demanded to know where the judge was . After discovering that Muktar had escaped, the attackers threatened to kill him if he returned to preside over court proceedings in the community.

No casualties were reported from the incident.

The attack on the Sharia court comes amid growing concerns over banditry in Katsina State. Communities across several local government areas, including Matazu, have faced persistent attacks from armed groups .

In recent weeks, residents of Gwarjo and surrounding communities have reportedly been subjected to levies imposed by bandits, with some farming communities allegedly asked to pay millions of naira before accessing their farmlands .

Recent security operations in the area have seen some success. Police officers from the Musawa and Matazu divisions recently repelled an attempted attack on Gwarjo town, forcing suspected bandits to flee and abandon weapons including two AK-49 rifles.

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Clarification on Viral Video

A separate video circulating on social media claiming to show a Sharia judge being abducted by bandits in Katsina has been fact-checked and found to be misleading .

The video, shared by a Facebook page on July 31, 2026, showed an incident that actually occurred in May 2021, when bandits abducted Judge Husaini Sama’ila from a court in Bauren Zakat village, Safana Local Government Area . Fact-checking organisation Dubawa confirmed that while the abduction happened, it took place five years ago and is unrelated to the recent July 29 attack in Matazu.

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As of the time of reporting, the Katsina State Police Command had not issued an official statement on the July 29 attack on the Sharia court.