Fear grips Funtua, Faskari residents as bandits’ attacks escalate

The increasing spate of banditry attacks in the southern part of Katsina State have sparked fear among residents of Funtua and environs as many have deserted their homes.

Arewa Trust Weekly reports that on Thursday, February 11, 2021, daredevil bandits stormed Shagari Low Cost in Funtua and abducted one Mr. Alex of First Bank Funtua branch and two daughters of Alhaji Hassan Fari after the latter slumped and died upon sighting the bandits in his compound. The leader of the vigilante group in the area, Ali Bahago was also shot dead after he engaged the bandits in a gunfight.

Similarly, last Thursday, no fewer than 17 married women were reportedly intercepted by the bandits on their way to a wedding ceremony while 12 others were reported to have been abducted on their way to Funtua from Maigora in Faskari LGA.

Speaking with our correspondent,Malam Muhammad Haruna, a resident of Low-cost in Funtua said since the incidents residents have remained in panic, unable to sleep comfortably at night.

“Many of our family members have deserted their homes for fear of the unknown. We sleep with only an eye closed. The danger is that the miscreants operate with insiders and so even if we choose to relocate, the bandits may be privy to our new places,” Haruna said.

He added that residents of newly developed areas in the outskirts of Funtua metropolis and other communities such as Jabiri, Makera, Ung Dahiru and Bagari have equally expressed apprehension at the increasing attacks in the area.

Abdullahi Hamza, a resident of Faskari town said in recent weeks, banditry attacks have escalated in the area adding that: “We have seen how gradually the bandits have dislodged about 70 villages and hamlets in the western part of Faskari. Many of the villagers have relocated to Kano, Funtua, Bakori, Danja and Zaria. Some may not return to their ancestral homes.”

Hamza added that the relocation of the villages have further made Faskari town vulnerable to attack. “Our only hope in Faskari town is the presence of the military super camp otherwise we would have left,” he said.

All attempts to get the reaction of the police in Katsina through the spokesman, SP Gambo Isah, proved abortive as he did not respond to calls put across by our correspondent.