Residents of Funtua, Katsina State, have expressed concern over renewed bandit attacks and prolonged gunfire in parts of the town.
The latest incident occurred when suspected armed men allegedly invaded parts of the Funtua metropolis.
The 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 the suspected attackers moved through some areas while shooting indiscriminately.
He said the gunfire continued intermittently for almost two hours, forcing residents to remain indoors for fear of being caught in the crossfire.
Another resident, Ja’afar Musa, said security operatives responded and mobilised to repel the attackers.
Musa said residents also cooperated with security personnel by staying indoors and providing information to help contain the situation.
A trader, Abdulrahman Shehu, expressed concern over 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.
Residents said recurring incidents of kidnapping, armed attacks and other criminal activities had continued to raise concerns in communities around Funtua.
They called for intensified security operations, increased patrols, improved intelligence gathering and faster responses to attacks.
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.
Insecurity: Residents raise alarm over renewed bandit attacks in Katsina community