Two masquerades who rob, torture and extort money from unsuspecting victims at the University town of Nsukka, Enugu State, have been arrested and detained by men of the Area Command and Nsukka Urban Police Division over alleged torture and extortion.
Following complaints from different quarters regarding masquerades’ frequent brutality, extortion and blockage of roads along Ugwu-Nkwo, Orba road, Nru junction, a combined team of men of the Area Command and the Nsukka Urban Police Division swung into action and arrest the two along Nru community, after engaging in physical combat.
Subsequently, some onlookers were said to have joined the scuffle by throwing stones at the policemen and raining abuses on them. In spite of this, the two masquerades were eventually overpowered and arrested, while masked individuals were said to have fled into nearby communities and bushes.
DAILY POST recalls that about two weeks ago, two masquerades at Otukpa Community, along Obolo-Afor road, Benue state, robbed one Chinonso Ezewaji, a trader, and left with his N57,000.00 and his handset. The two masquerades were identified as Kenechukwu Eze and Chima Mama from Nsukka, Enugu State.
DAILY POST gathered that the two masquerades, Omeje Ugochukwu and Anayo Ezema, had brutally attacked a staff of Radio Nigeria, Radio Nigeria, Voice FM Nsukka and an academic doctor of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), who lodged different complaints at both the Area Command and Nsukka Urban Police Division, prompting the police in their numbers to move into the communities.
One of the apprehended masquerades, Ugochukwu who hails from Amaozalla community in Nsukka Local Government Area, Enugu State, confirmed that his arrest was in connection with some masquerades that operated in the morning hours and inflicted a head injury on their victim in an attempt to raid him of his money.
The 22-year-old culprit added that the masquerades were celebrating the annual festival of Ihe/Owere autonomous community by entertaining residents, visitors and the University community but not to mutilate people.
“I am an apprentice welder. I used the masquerade to beg for money to support myself but not to apply force to compel people to give me money.”
Ugochukwu apportioned blames on the masquerades that operated earlier in the morning, describing them as being more hot-blooded and wicked, noting that they had forcefully extorted money from people.
“We did not know that the men pursuing us were policemen because they were in mufti. I had no dangerous weapon on me except a small cane and palm fruit when I was arrested.”
He further disclosed that what he collected before his arrest and detention was only N20. 00.
23-year-old Ezema, the second accomplice arrested, disclosed he is a vulcanizer and hails from Isi-Uja, Ihe/Owere community.
On apprehension, he said: “While operating with other masquerades in the evening, we met a certain man and demanded money from him. The man was directed to drop the money on the ground as masquerades do not collect money directly from people. It was at this point that the policemen started chasing us; leapt on us and we were both arrested.
Ezema further explained that the police accused them of beating and breaking someone’s head in the morning hours while in masquerade regalia.
He, however, denied the claims, saying they did not engage the police in any physical combat. I am surprised that my sister was also arrested in connection with the matter. It is unheard of in Igbo land for a woman to be associated with masquerades.
The Area Commander, Nigeria Police Command Nsukka, Musa Haladu, while confirming the arrest of the two masquerades, advised communities under the Command not to allow masquerades disturb people from going about their normal businesses.
Haladu said, “Every community in the country has one culture or the other which shall not be used to disturb the existing peace in a community.”
He also noted that Nsukka is an urban town that has the mixture of different people and culture.
Ebere Amarizu, Enugu State Police Public Relations Officer, had earlier issued a statement that the community should regulate and monitor those who go about as masquerades as some of them take advantage of this to harass, intimidate and rob people.
Amarizu said, “A masquerade has no right to mount road block on any road where motorists, cyclists and other road users ply on daily basis.
“The police is not against any culture but community leaders must know the character of people they allow to operate as masquerades in the name of culture,” Amarizu added.
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