READ HOW JONATHAN'S VISIT TO KATSINA AIDED DEATH MERCHANTS TO SLAUGHTER 113 PEOPLE.

The massive security set up  in Katsina, the capital city in Katsina State, Northern Nigeria, ahead of a two-day visit to the state by Nigerian President, Goodluck Jonathan meant that policemen and soldiers that could protect villages that had been under siege from blood thirsty herdsmen were diverted elsewhere to protect the president.

A source said because of the President’s visit, military and police protection is absent in Sabuwa and Faskari local government areas, despite the deaths of 69 people since Tuesday, killed during raids by hundreds of armed gunmen on motorcycles.   A previous report had the death toll at 40 - those numbers have increased to 113 as bodies are discovered in forests and other areas.

Mohammed Garba, a village resident, said the attackers killed people and burned homes and cars, and because of the President’s visit there was no security to fight back against the gunmen.

He said, “I got home today from Kaduna where I worked. We rushed about 15 wounded ones to hospital.  Only our lawmaker came. We buried 47 (people) in Mararabar Maigora, 14 in Ungwar Rimi and Kuran Mota, and eight in Gora.”

The House of Representatives member representing Faskari/Kankara/Sabuwa Federal Constituency,  Abbas Abdullahi Machika said, “There is no explanation why security agencies are not being deployed to the affected areas.”