Residents of Funtua, Katsina State, have expressed concern over renewed bandit attacks and prolonged gunfire in parts of the town.

The latest incident occurred about 10 p.m. on Thursday, when suspected armed gunmen allegedly invaded parts of Funtua metropolis.

Affected areas reportedly included Kasuwar Mata, Dandaji and the Sokoto Bye-Pass corridor towards the vicinity of ASA Bread Company.

A resident, Muhammad Bello, said on Sunday that suspected attackers moved through some areas while shooting indiscriminately.

He said the gunfire continued intermittently for almost two hours, with residents hearing repeated shots from different directions.

“The shooting continued until about 11:30 p.m., forcing many residents to remain indoors for fear of being caught in the crossfire,” Mr Bello said.

According to him, the incident caused anxiety among families, traders, motorists and other residents over fears of further attacks.

Another resident, Ja’afar Musa, said security operatives responded to the situation and mobilised to repel the suspected attackers.

Mr Musa said residents also cooperated with security agents by remaining indoors and providing information to assist efforts to contain the situation.

He commended the security agencies for their response, saying their intervention helped to prevent further escalation of the incident.

A trader, Abdulrahman Shehu, expressed concern over what he described as the deteriorating security situation in Funtua and neighbouring communities.

“The latest incident has renewed concerns over the security situation in parts of Funtua Local Government Area,” he said.

Mr Shehu urged authorities to intensify security operations and adopt proactive measures to prevent criminal elements from accessing populated areas.

Residents said incidents of kidnapping, armed attacks and other criminal activities had continued to generate concern in communities around Funtua.

They expressed fears that persistent insecurity could affect lives, property, commercial activities, transportation, education and the area’s socio-economic wellbeing.

Funtua, a major commercial centre in Katsina State, serves as an important economic and transportation hub for communities within the state and neighbouring areas.

Another resident, Sa’idu Garba, called for increased patrols, improved intelligence gathering, rapid-response mechanisms and stronger collaboration between security agencies and communities.

He said such measures would help prevent armed groups from accessing populated areas and reassure residents.

In his reaction, the state Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Abubakar Sadiq-Aliyu, confirmed the attack and assured residents that security agencies were on top of the situation. 

(NAN)