Gunmen who have been burning government facilities especially courts and Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) offices on Sunday razed down a section of the Owerri Magistrate’s Court in the Imo State capital.
This comes barely a day after they burnt the Orlu High Court, destroying materials and files.
The Magistrate’s Court, which is located at the heart of the State capital, is housing the Owerri High Court.
The gunmen, who used explosives to target a section of the roof of the court facility, burnt not just part of the structure but also destroyed sensitive court materials and documents, including files were burnt.
The source said, “Hoodlums have razed part of the Owerri Magistrate’s Court located at Owerri-Orlu Road. It happened today ( Sunday). This is very unfortunate.”
The Spokesperson for the Imo State Police Command, Micheal Abattam, who confirmed the incident, added that the fire had been put out.
He also said that the Command had begun an investigation with a view to arresting the culprits.
The burning of the Orlu High Court and the Owerri Magistrate Court is coming few days after some gunmen attacked the headquarters of INEC in Owerri, which the Police blamed on the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
The Orlu High Court also houses the Magistrates’ court and the all the files in the building were burnt.
What is surprising is that the Orlu High Court is close to a security check point as well as the Police Divisional headquarters.
In 2018, the High Court was razed. On December 1, the Orlu office of INEC was set ablaze in the same manner.
Orlu Branch Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association, Barnabas Munonye, who confirmed the incident, described it as unfortunate.
He said that his attention was drawn to the incident by the administrative secretary of the association early Saturday morning.
Spokesperson for the Imo State Police Command, CSP Mike Abattam, who also confirmed the incident, said that police had launched investigation into the incident.