Three courts in Makurdi, the Benue state capital, were on Wednesday attacked by about ten gunmen who invaded the courts and held a sitting Judge and lawyers hostage.
The gunmen, who were fully armed, shot sporadically into the air, causing panic and fear amongst the residents of the area.
It was gathered that the three courts were 500 metres away from the state police headquarters.
According to reports, the sitting Judge as at the time of attack, Justice Mary Abounu, wife of the deputy Governor, was already in the middle of a case when the court was stormed and she was held hostage along with the other people in her court.
The first court that was invaded was the Magistrate Court 1, where they broke into the courtroom, carting away one computer, a printer, a generator and various files for different cases, said Mr Isaac Ajim, a Magistrate.
At the Upper Area court, the registrar, Mrs Sarah Gboji, claimed they made away with N280,000.
It was also gathered that after the attack and havoc, the criminals locked down the court rooms using padlocks they had brought with them.
The Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Micheal Gusa, who condemned the act, urged youths in the state to engage in meaningful activities and to stay away from crime.
He further told Benue state youths to embrace the amnesty programme of the state created for them so as to avoid criminal activities which is bound to endanger their lives.
Micheal however assured that the perpetrators of the act will be fished out and the law will take its course.
The state police public relations officer, Moses Yamu, confirmed the incident and disclosed that three security guards have been invited for questioning.
