Eight years after the massacre of April 25, 2016, that left no less than 40 persons dead in Nimbo in the Uzo-Uwani local government area of Enugu State, the only person who was convicted for the mass murder, Mohamed Zurai, has confessed to his participation in the crime.
But he said he was complicit to the crime to the extent of video recording the killings and not killing anyone.
Zurai, a herdsman, told Sunday Vanguard that the Nimbo massacre was carried out because one Alhaji was beheaded by assailants in the Enugu community.
He spoke to our correspondent during an undercover operation in Enugu Correctional Center where he is waiting for the hangman’s noose.
Justice Anthony Onovo of the Nsukka Division of Enugu State High Court had, on May 17, 2023, pronounced the death sentence on him.
The murderer was among five suspects arraigned on May 9, 2017 for the mass murder in Nimbo on April 25, 2016.
They were charged with murder contrary to Section 274 (1) of the Criminal Code Cap 30 Vol II of the Revised Laws of Enugu State of Nigeria 2004.
Zurai was the prime suspect whose cell phone was found to have recorded the Nimbo killings.
Delivering judgment on the matter on May 17, 2023, Justice Onovo said, “In all, the only person who has been shown to have participated in the killing at Nimbo community on 25/4/2016 is the 1st defendant, Mohammed Zurai.
According to him, many went for the operation but he used his phone to do a video recording of the killings in his image also appeared in the video as a selfie.
He disclosed that sponsors of the killings wanted to eliminate him while in prison custody, alleging that some persons were offered N300,000 to kill him so that he would not live to tell the story of what happened but that the request was turned down.
The murderer, who said there were over 20 that carried out the operation, however, denied killing anybody at Nimbo but said he was behind his colleagues and that his only job was to record the killings.
Zurai wondered why only he was convicted while his friends who were arraigned with him also participated in the operation but were freed.
He, therefore, pleaded for the telephone number of this reporter so that he could communicate with him afterwards since he agreed to help him get a lawyer who could appeal his death sentence.
Zuari looked 30 years old and fair in complexion.
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