The assault during live proceedings reignites concerns over the safety of judges, lawyers and litigants in Nigeria’s courtrooms
The arraignment of an 87-year-old man accused of attacking an Area Court judge with a cutlass in Adamawa State has cast a harsh light on a question the Nigerian judiciary can no longer afford to ignore: How secure are the nation’s courts?
Courtrooms are designed to be sanctuaries of justice, where disputes are resolved by reason rather than force. Yet that expectation was violently shattered at the Mayo-Ine Area Court in Fufore Local Government Area, where police allege that Dahiru Garba launched a cutlass attack on the presiding Magistrate, Hon. Dauda Hamman, while proceedings were underway. According to investigators, the defendant repeatedly struck the judge’s hand, inflicting grievous injuries before he was overpowered and arrested.
The incident, which occurred on August 31, has since moved from the courtroom to the criminal dock.
Garba was arraigned before Chief Magistrate Court I in Yola on a one-count charge of causing grievous hurt contrary to Section 219 of the Penal Code Law of Adamawa State, 2018. He pleaded guilty when the charge was read to him and reportedly told the court he regretted his actions, blaming “the devil” for the attack. The court ordered his remand at the Yola Correctional Facility pending further proceedings.
While the criminal prosecution is now underway, the attack has exposed broader concerns about the physical security of judicial officers, particularly those serving in Area Courts, Customary Courts and Magistrates’ Courts, where security arrangements are often less robust than in superior courts.
Judges routinely hear emotionally charged disputes involving land, family conflicts, criminal allegations and commercial disagreements. Litigants who feel aggrieved by proceedings or judgments may react unpredictably, making courtroom security an essential safeguard not only for judicial officers but also for lawyers, witnesses and members of the public.
The alleged assault has therefore prompted renewed questions about whether existing security protocols are adequate to deal with sudden acts of violence inside courtrooms.
Across many lower courts in Nigeria, security is frequently limited to a handful of police officers or court officials, with little or no screening of visitors for weapons before they enter court premises. Unlike airports, government buildings and some superior courts, many trial courts lack metal detectors, controlled access points or dedicated court security personnel trained to respond to violent incidents.
The attack on Judge Hamman has illustrated how quickly judicial proceedings can descend into violence when those protections are absent.
The Adamawa State Police Command said Garba was arrested immediately after the incident and the case transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department in Yola for further investigation before his arraignment. Commissioner of Police Kabir Umar Hassan assured the public that the matter would be diligently prosecuted to ensure justice is served.
Beyond the criminal case, however, the incident raises a larger institutional concern.
Judicial independence is often discussed in terms of constitutional guarantees, financial autonomy and freedom from political interference. Equally important, though less frequently examined, is the physical security of judges. A courtroom where judicial officers fear for their safety cannot easily inspire public confidence in the administration of justice.
For many within the legal community, the attack serves as a reminder that protecting the judiciary requires more than constitutional safeguards. It also demands practical measures capable of ensuring that judges can perform their duties without facing violence from those who appear before them.
As the prosecution proceeds, the events at the Mayo-Ine Area Court are likely to intensify calls for a comprehensive review of courtroom security across Nigeria, particularly in lower courts where judicial officers often sit closest to the communities they serve—and, increasingly, closest to potential danger.
