Mohammed Zure one of the Fulani herdsmen who allegedly participated in the Enugu massacre of more than 48 persons in Nimbo community, Uzo-Uwani local government area of Enugu state, has made shocking revelations in custody at the Kogi state command.
It was gathered that the suspect was initially arrested by the police because of his connection with some suspected kidnappers in the state. According to a reliable source in the state command, Mohammed was granted bail after the prime suspect in the kidnap case for which he was nabbed was arrested.
"He was granted bail and because he needed someone to take him on bail, the investigating officer decided to switch on his phone. Out of curiosity, he decided to go through the content of the phone. It was in the process that he discovered horrible video clips of a murder scene.
"Everything changed immediately and he was taken back to the interrogation room. He later confessed that he was the one who took the video while they were slaughtering one of the victims during the Enugu killings. In the video, you could hear him shouting and saying in Hausa ‘I have killed you now. You think that you can kill Fulani herdsmen and go free’. He personally took the picture to show his family members that he was actually successful and participated in the killings," the police source stated.
According to the source, Mohammed confessed that they were more than 100 Fulani herdsmen who came for the attack.
"He confessed that they were more than 100 and were selected from different states especially from Taraba, Kogi, Benue, Nasarrawa, Kastina, Niger and Kaduna states. He claimed that the people of Nimbo had killed so many of their people in the past and government did not do anything about it. He claimed that they also reported severally to Nimbo elders but they refused to investigate, that was why they decided to retaliate."
It was further gathered that Mohammed told the police that the Fulani are so united that whatever affects an individual is their problem.
"He alleged that their people in Nimbo shared Kolanut to all cattle rearers across the country. What it signifies is that there is going to be an attack and everyone should send representatives to support them. He alleged that this is their custom and has been existing. He was nominated to join them because he was born and raised in Enugu by his father who is also a herdsman. Two days before the attack, they all gathered in a community in Kogi and perfected how they would execute the attack."
The police has since commenced serious manhunt for the fleeing herdsmen who they believe have fled the eastern state since the attack.
Source
Saturday Sun
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