Residents of Funtua, Katsina State, were forced to remain indoors on Thursday night as suspected armed gunmen invaded parts of the town and engaged in prolonged shooting for almost two hours.
The incident occurred around 10pm, with gunfire reported in Kasuwar Mata, Dandaji and the Sokoto Bye-Pass corridor towards the vicinity of ASA Bread Company, causing panic among residents, traders and motorists.
A resident, Malam Muhammad Bello, told the News Agency of Nigeria on Sunday that the suspected attackers moved through parts of the metropolis while firing weapons.
He said the shooting continued intermittently until about 11:30pm.
“The shooting continued until about 11:30 p.m., forcing many residents to remain indoors for fear of being caught in the crossfire,” Bello said.
According to him, the incident heightened anxiety among families and other residents who feared that the attack could escalate.
Another resident, Malam Ja’afar Musa, said security operatives quickly mobilised to the affected areas to repel the suspected attackers.
He added that residents supported the security personnel by remaining indoors and providing information to assist efforts to contain the situation.
Musa commended the security agencies for their response, saying their intervention helped prevent further escalation.
However, 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.
Shehu urged the authorities to intensify security operations and adopt proactive measures to prevent criminal elements from gaining access to populated areas.
Residents said alleged cases of kidnapping, armed attacks and other criminal activities had continued to cause concern in communities around Funtua.
They feared that persistent insecurity could threaten lives and property while also disrupting commercial activities, transportation and education.
The residents warned that continued attacks could further undermine the socio-economic wellbeing of Funtua, a major commercial and transportation hub in Katsina State.
Another resident, Malam Sa’idu Garba, called for increased security patrols, improved intelligence gathering and stronger rapid-response mechanisms.
He also urged security agencies to strengthen collaboration with communities to prevent armed groups from accessing populated areas.
Garba said such measures would help restore confidence among residents and reassure them of their safety.
Also speaking with NAN, the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Abubakar Sadiq-Aliyu, confirmed the attack.
He assured residents that security agencies were on top of the situation.
