Unknown gunmen have attacked Kuran Mota and Mararabar Rindu villages in Faskari council and Unguwar Rimi village in Sabuwa Council Area of Katsina State, killing about 60 people and injuring many others.

An eyewitness told our correspondent that the gunmen who stormed the communities with 20 power bike motorcycles and AK47 rifles at about 6pm also killed a district head and carted away several cows belonging to local herdsmen.

The gunmen also launched a fresh attack on the two local governments on Wednesday, forcing natives to flee from their villages for fear of being killed.

A community leader told Channels Television that there was no presence of security men in the affected villages, as all the policemen and other security operatives were deployed to the state capital, ahead of President Goodluck Jonathan’s visit to the state on Thursday.

There has been no official confirmation of the incident as efforts to speak with the Special Adviser to the Katsina State Governor on Media, Mr. Sani Manunfasi, and the Police Spokesman in the state, Aminu Sadik, have been unsuccessful.