Well known political thugs who came in vehicles branded with Governor Hyacinth Alia’s picture held 16 Judges of the Benue State High Court and the Customary Court of Appeal hostage for almost five hours on Wednesday, 19th February 2025.
The siege took place at the premises of the Benue State High Court Complex with the judges trapped inside the Chambers of the State Chief Judge, Justice Maurice Ikpambese from about 10am to 3pm when the thugs left and they regained their freedom.
Trouble started at about 9 am when most of the High Court Judges assembled at the Judiciary Guest House to hold a meeting to deliberate on recent developments with regard to the State Chief Judge.
Eyewitnesses said no sooner had they gathered that a highly placed government official who knew about the meeting went and brought the thugs to disrupt proceedings.
According to the witnesses, Justice Ikpambese who also got wind of the planned disruption called the judges to leave and come to his chambers at the High Court Complex.
Their departure coincided with the arrival of the thugs who immediately swooped on the security guards at the entrance and started manhandl
The Public Relations Officer of the High Court, Mr Stephen Tsegba, was also beaten by the thugs at the entrance to the Guest House and had to be rescued by some of them who knew him.
The hoodlums then proceeded to the nearby High Court Complex where they forced their way into the premises in the presence of heavily armed police and other security agents who appeared helpless as they made no efforts to arrest anyone or stop their entry.
Armed with irons rods and clubs, the thugs broke the door of the entrance to the Chambers of the Chief Judge and attempted to gain entry into where the judges were gathered before armed guards stopped them.
The siege lasted as the thugs surrounded the entire complex and appeared to be waiting for orders on what to do.
It was around 2.30 pm that the Makurdi Police Zonal Commander came and led the High Court and Customary Court of Appeal Judges out, including the Chief Judge, Justice Ikpambese, with the assurance that the thugs had dispersed.