An unspecified number of suspected gunmen, have reportedly burnt files and record books of Chief Magistrate Court 1 and Senior Magistrate Court 2 in Orlu, Imo State.
it was gathered yestetday that the hoodlums attacked the two courts Monday night, but the intentions of the arsonists remained unclear at press time.
A staff of the State Judiciary, who spoke on strict grounds of anonymity, told Vanguard that “the ravaging gunmen overpowered the unarmed security men guarding the court premises and thereafter commenced their damnable act”.
Continuing, the judiciary staff said that “from the way the armed hoodlums behaved, one can conclude that they were interested in record of proceedings and other court documents”.
While reaffirming that the hoodlums deliberately broke into the two Magistrate Courts, brought out files, record books and burnt them to ashes
Answering another question, the staff revealed that the archives of High Court 1, where Justice L. C. Azuama presides, was also affected.
It was however, not clear at press time, if the act was political, as Vanguard could not get any lead from any quarters, to substantiate the story line.
A resident in the area, who simply identified herself as Cecilia, reasoned that the sad event has again brought to the fore, the importance of securing communities and government establishments.
She recalled with grief, how some armed gangsters stormed the High Court premises, Owerri, and rescued a notorious kidnap kingpin, in the full glare of armed police and prisons personnel.
All efforts made to get the police angle failed, as the Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Mr. Andrew Enwerem, neither picked or returned calls put across to him.
