Breaking: Gunmen set fire to Imo High Court, destroy documents

Gunmen reportedly set fire to the Imo State High Court building in Orlu on Saturday, destroying a portion of the edifice that housed critical records.

The development comes just a few days after gunmen assaulted the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) headquarters in Owerri.

According to reports, the complex houses both the high court and a magistrates' court.

According to a member of the judiciary who spoke on the condition of anonymity to the correspondent, all of the files in the premises were burned.

The Orlu High Court is in close proximity to a security checkpoint and the police divisional headquarters.

The Supreme Court was demolished in 2018. On December 1, the INEC office in Orlu was similarly set ablaze.

Barnabas Munonye, the Nigerian Bar Association's Orlu Branch Chairman, who confirmed the occurrence, characterised it as unfortunate.

He stated that the matter was brought to his knowledge by the association's administrative secretary early Saturday morning.

CSP Mike Abattam, spokesperson for the Imo State Police Command, confirmed the event and said police had initiated an investigation.