The Commission of Inquiry into the killing in Nimbo community in Enugu State on Tuesday heard that security operatives have vital information about the identity of the invaders.
The Caretaker Committee Chairman of Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area of Enugu State, Mr Cornell Onwubuya, made this known when he testified before the commission.
Onwubuya expressed regrets that none of the master minds and kingpins of the April 25 invasion of the community have been arrested.
According to him, the identity of the kingpins were availed to security agencies in the state.
He said that he volunteered all intelligence information to all the security agencies and wondered why no arrests was made in line with directives by the Federal Government.
“The police have enough information on how to get at the kingpins and master minders of this attack.
“We availed them of the whole information needed to even avert the attack.
“We knew where the suspected herdsmen were camped prior to the attack on Nimbo and I even suggested to the police that we strike them first to disorganise the assailants,” he said.
The chairman said that when the rumour of the imminent invasion filtered in, he made efforts to contain it.
“On Friday April 22, I received a text message from the traditional ruler of Nimbo Community, Chief John Akor informing me that over 500 herdsmen were coming from Nassarawa to attack Nimbo.
“I made discrete inquiries from other sources and found the information to be true,” he said.
Onwubuya said that he immediately contacted the leader of the Fulani Community in the state, Alhaji Ardo Basso, who promised to travel to Nassarawa State for investigation.
“But on Sunday, April 24, Alhaji Ahmed Abubarkar, called and told me that Basso was already back as he could not get to Nassarawa State.
“He said that Basso stopped at Oturkpo to pray and while at the Mosque he got information that those that want to attack Nimbo were already camped in a nearby community called Ameke in Kogi State.
“I immediately alerted the then Commissioner of Police, Mr Nwodibo Ekechukwu, the Area Commander in-charge of Nsukka of the imminent danger,” he said.
Onwubuya said that preliminary information had it that the suspected herdsmen were on reprisal following allegations that some of the cattle breeders had been at the receiving end in Nimbo.
“There was a time some corpses were recovered in one of the communities in Kogi State that share boundary with Nimbo.
“I am aware that those corpses were recovered across the river and in Kogi State,” he said.
He said that there had been reported cases where some traditional rulers and a few people collected money from herdsmen and give them pass to graze.
The council chairman said that such people did not have the authority to enter into such agreement with the herdsmen.
It would be recalled that the attack on the community left 11 people dead and scores of others injured while property worth millions of naira was destroyed.
Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of the state following the incidence inaugurated the panel to unravel the remote and immediate causes of the attack as well as ascertain the conditions in which herdsmen graze in the state. (NAN)