87-YEAR-OLD MAN ARRAIGNED FOR ALLEGEDLY CUTTING OFF ADAMAWA JUDGE’S HAND WITH CUTLASS
An 87-year-old man, Dahiru Garba, has been arraigned before a Chief Magistrate’s Court in Yola, Adamawa State, for allegedly attacking an Area Court judge with a cutlass and causing severe injuries to his hand.
Garba, a resident of Korawa village in Fufore Local Government Area of Adamawa State, was brought before Chief Magistrate Court I in Yola on Monday, September 8, 2026, following an investigation into the alleged attack.
According to the Adamawa State Police Command, the incident occurred on August 31, 2026, at the Mayo-Ine Area Court, where the presiding judge, Hon. Dauda Hamman, was reportedly conducting court proceedings involving Garba and another individual identified as Ismail Yusuf.
The police alleged that during the proceedings, Garba attacked the judge with a cutlass and repeatedly struck his hand, inflicting grievous injuries.
The circumstances surrounding what triggered the alleged attack were not immediately made public by the police. However, authorities said the incident occurred while the judge was presiding over a case involving the elderly suspect and Yusuf.
The Adamawa State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Suleiman Nguroje, disclosed the development in a statement issued on Tuesday, September 8.
Nguroje said police operatives arrested Garba immediately after the incident and initially took the case to the Divisional Police Headquarters in Fufore for preliminary investigation.
The matter was later transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department in Yola on September 4 for further investigation and prosecution.
Following the completion of the investigation, police said the suspect was arraigned before Chief Magistrate Ismail Bello Shelleng.
Garba was charged with one count of causing grievous hurt, contrary to Section 219 of the Penal Code Law of Adamawa State, 2018.
When the charge was read and interpreted to him in court, the 87-year-old suspect reportedly pleaded guilty.
Police said the defendant attributed his action to the devil and expressed regret over what happened.
Despite his plea, the court ordered that Garba be remanded at the Yola Correctional Facility pending further hearing in the matter.
The case has attracted attention because of the age of the defendant and the fact that the alleged victim is a serving judicial officer who was reportedly attacked while carrying out his official duties.
The incident also raises concerns about security within courthouses and the safety of judicial officers, particularly in lower courts where judges and magistrates regularly preside over cases involving members of the public.
Courts are expected to provide an environment where judicial officers, lawyers, litigants and other participants can carry out proceedings without threats or violence.
An attack on a judge during court proceedings therefore represents a serious disruption of the judicial process, regardless of the circumstances that may have preceded it.
The police have not indicated that anyone else was arrested in connection with the incident, and details surrounding the alleged dispute between Garba and the judge remain limited.
The command also did not disclose the current medical condition of Judge Hamman or provide further details about the extent of the injuries he sustained during the alleged attack.
The police said the prosecution would proceed in accordance with the law and assured members of the public that the matter would be diligently handled.
Adamawa State Commissioner of Police, CP Kabir Umar Hassan, reportedly directed that the case be properly prosecuted to ensure that justice is served.
The arraignment marks the beginning of the judicial process against the elderly defendant, who will now face further proceedings over the charge brought against him.
While Garba has reportedly pleaded guilty to the charge, the court proceedings will determine the legal consequences of the alleged act in accordance with the relevant provisions of Adamawa State law.
The incident is also likely to renew discussions about security arrangements in courts and the need to protect judicial officers from violence or intimidation while performing their duties.
For now, the 87-year-old suspect remains in custody at the Yola Correctional Facility pending further hearing.
Street News Reporters will continue to monitor the case as proceedings continue and provide updates on the condition of the judge, the defendant’s next court appearance and any further findings from the police investigation.
