Villagers Allegedly Attack Judge, Lawyer, Court Staff While Inspecting Disputed Land In Gombe
At least three judicial officials including a judge were allegedly assaulted by unknown villagers on Saturday while inspecting a contested land site in Gombe State’s Balanga Local Government Area.
The victims – Upper Area Court III judge Ayuba Buba-Dalas, lawyer Usman Yahya, and a court staff member – had gone to Degri village to physically assess the disputed property when they were suddenly set upon by local residents wielding weapons, eyewitnesses claim.
Court teams routinely visit disputed lands to gather evidence before ruling on ownership. But in this instance the inspection party was attacked upon being spotted by the villagers, reports say.
The Nigerian Bar Association’s Gombe chapter confirmed the incident, with Publicity Secretary Bashir Abdullahi saying the Bar would visit the wounded judge and lawyer over the “sad occurrence.”
Details remain unclear about the motives behind targeting the court officials or the extent of any injuries. But the assault highlights the latent risks judges and lawyers face when probing contentious local land feuds.
Police authorities say an investigation is underway to apprehend the perpetrators who attacked the judicial officers. The NBA also called for heightened security to protect judges, lawyers and court staff undertaking legitimate duties nationwide.
In the aftermath, legal experts are advising judges and lawyers to arrange sturdier security details when visiting disputed properties to avert attacks. Even routine tasks like levying executions may require extra safeguards.
Judges and lawyers remain exposed targets, so reinforced security is now a must,” said lawyer Adebajo. Some argue that regular police may no longer be sufficient amid the boldness of recent attacks, and the technicality adopted by judges and lawyers in the courtroom is exacerbating the rise in attacks on them
While the NBA pushes for better judicial protections, experts say judges and lawyers must now prioritize their personal safety when embarking on sensitive field work to avoid becoming victims.
