The 87-Year-Old Man Who Attacked a Judge in Court

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The 87-Year-Old Man Who Attacked a Judge in Court

The case before the Mayo-Ine Area Court in Fufore, Adamawa State, was already underway when the proceedings took an unexpected turn on 31 August 2026.

Dahiru Garba, an 87-year-old man from Korawa village, was before the court in a case involving another man, Ismail Yusuf.

According to the Adamawa State Police Command, Garba attacked the presiding judge, Dauda Hamman, with a cutlass.

The police said the attack happened while Judge Hamman was presiding over the case. Garba allegedly struck the judge's hand several times, causing serious injuries.

Police officers intervened and arrested Garba at the scene, according to the account released by the command.

The matter was first handled at the Divisional Police Headquarters in Fufore. Investigators later transferred the case to the State Criminal Investigation Department in Yola on 4 September.

The transfer moved the investigation to the state command's criminal investigation unit before Garba was taken before a court in Yola.

By the time Garba appeared before Chief Magistrate Court I in Yola, the allegation had become a criminal charge.

Police accused him of causing grievous hurt, citing Section 219 of the Penal Code Law of Adamawa State, 2018.

The charge was read and interpreted to him before the court.

Garba pleaded guilty to the charge, according to reports on the proceedings. He also expressed regret and attributed his action to the devil.

The court ordered that he be remanded at a correctional facility in Yola while the case proceeds.

The police command said the prosecution would continue in accordance with the law.