Suspected Bandits Kidnap Judge Inside Court

A Sharia Court Judge, Alhaji Hussaini Samaila, was kidnapped on Tuesday afternoon in the Safana Local Government Area of Katsina State.

Residents said the gunmen suspected to be bandits swooped on the judge’s court located at Bauren Zakat village in the council and took him away.

The mission of the judge at the court could not be ascertained as judicial workers in the state were still observing the nationwide strike directed by their national union.

The Katsina State Police Command’s spokesperson, Gambo Isah, confirmed the development on Tuesday night.

He explained that the Police have commenced an investigation into the incident.

Isah said the court has already been relocated to Safana town due to the security challenges at the village.

He also disclosed that the judge did not request police protection before going to the village.

The police spokesperson said, “The court has already been relocated from the village to Safana due to security challenges. Also, the judge did not request police orderly and the necessary security backup that is supposed to be around when courts are sitting. So, nobody was aware of his visit to the court, more so, when there is an ongoing strike by the judicial workers.”

The gunmen are yet to contact the family of the judge as of the time of filing this report.