Tension has gripped parts of Katsina metropolis following a violent clash between security operatives and youths in Sabuwar Unguwa that reportedly claimed the lives of at least four civilians.
The incident occurred on Sunday, December 28, after security personnel moved to apprehend a man identified as Uzairu, also known as Dankuda, whom they described as a known troublemaker.
The arrest attempt, however, met stiff resistance as he was allegedly shielded by friends and associates in the area.
An eyewitness who spoke to journalists on condition of anonymity said the situation initially involved officers of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), who later requested police backup when they encountered resistance.
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“It was yesterday afternoon when members of the Civil Defense Corp who had an office in the neighborhood stormed the enclave of Dankuda whom they accused of perpetrating criminal activities. But they met fierce resistance from him and his friends, that’s what prompted them to call in police.”
According to the source, the confrontation escalated when Dankuda allegedly resisted arrest and rallied his associates to retrieve a phone seized by the operatives. In the ensuing chaos, he was reportedly shot dead by security personnel.
The unrest quickly spread, with angry youths setting fire to an NSCDC outpost and burning several motorcycles in the area.
“Two other people were shot by the police as the scene became chaotic, and at the burial ground where the community went to bury them, another boy was shot dead,” the source admitted.
Reacting to the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer in Katsina State, DSP Abubakar Sadiq Aliyu, said in a statement that security operatives were attempting to arrest Dankuda for questioning in connection with several criminal allegations.
The police spokesperson described the area as a hotspot for criminal activity, noting that the group allegedly led by Dankuda was well known and feared, particularly by commuters who pass through the area at odd hours.
