9am. Official court business time. Court filled to the brim with Lawyers and Litigants agog to have their cases heard and determined. Another bright day for official business.

Pending when the Trial Judge comes out of his chambers the lawyers and litigants will be seated . Lawyers seated at the Bar going through their files making last minute adjustments.

Litigants come in seated at the place meant for them. It continues like this the ingress and egress till the Court rises. Perfect court scenario.

On this particular day in the Garden City, the oil rich state of Rivers it was a pathetic story. Youths several in number thronged the court. Mayhem was their agenda. Taking advantage of the lapses in security they had a field day.

They shelled the Court buildings. Made way to the file rooms ransacked the place carted away vital files and exhibits. There was pandemonium. Lawyers and Litigants scurried for safety. The Trial Judge did in like manner. The concern is safety. Life before justice.

Natural scheme of things in the prevailing circumstances. Rivers is not the first. It may not be the last unless concerted efforts are made to nip a repeat in the bud.

In the hey days of the slain villain and kidnap linchpin, "vampire " his arraignment was scuttled in Owerri High Court. His confederates in crime came shot sporadically and succeeded in giving him a temporal lease of life. There are other instances in other parts of the country.

A Court is a solemn place where peoples destinies are sealed via verdict. Without mincing words if we are serious we can't afford to have it ill equipped security wise.

The reality on ground debunks a serious security proof attitude. A middle aged man without any weapon who locks the gate earning a meagre sum and dependent on tips to survive.

A lanky or obese police orderly with a pistol, who sits in a corner and sleeps most of the day nodding like Agama lizard at intervals. An errand boy in security costume. Should a situation occur he can't guarantee his safety let alone the Judge.

Sometimes female police officers are posted one per court. They look everything but serious. Sitting lackadaisically at the back seat lacking in elegance bereft of firearms.

The number cum appearance of the officers shows how lax we are security wise. Surely there is more to a court security than asking litigants to stop making noise and confiscating phones that disrupt proceedings.

Until we beef up our courts security properly more disaster awaits!!!

More pictures.