Panic as terrorists invade Katsina shopping mall, shoot for almost two hours

Residents of Funtua, Katsina State, have expressed concern over fresh terrorist attacks and sustained gunfire in some parts of the town.

The latest incident occurred on Thursday at 10pm, when suspected terrorists invaded parts of the metropolis of Funtua.

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

One resident, Malam Muhammad Bello, said Sunday that the suspected attackers moved through some areas while firing weapons.

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

“The shooting continued until around 11.30pm, forcing many residents to stay indoors for fear of being caught in the crossfire,” Bello said.

According to him, the incident has caused concern among families, traders, motorists and other residents for fear of further attacks.

Another resident, Malam Ja’afar Musa, said security officers responded to the situation and moved to repel the suspected attackers.

Musa said residents also cooperated with security personnel by staying indoors and providing information to aid efforts to contain the situation.

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

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

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

Shehu urged authorities to intensify security operations and take proactive measures to prevent criminal elements from entering populated areas.

Residents said alleged incidents of kidnappings, armed attacks and other criminal activity continued to generate concern in communities around Funtua.

They expressed fears that persistent insecurity could impact lives, properties, businesses, transportation, education and socio-economic well-being in the area.

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

Malam Sa’idu Garba, another resident, called for increased patrols, better intelligence gathering, rapid response mechanisms and stronger collaboration between security agencies and communities.

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

Also speaking, the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Abubakar Sadiq-Aliyu, confirmed the attack and assured residents that security agencies were aware of the situation.