For the people of Ovoko community, Igbo-Eze South local government area of Enugu state, terror and mayhem can only describe the recent activities in the area.
However, following the ugly trend, not less than two masquerades were taken into police custody following alleged brutality.
WITHIN NIGERIA gathered that the incident happened on Friday even as the community is witnessing the last outing of the masquerades for the year.
An eye witness told our reporter that “these masquerades were busy assaulting residents, passersby and other road users in the community in the name of culture.
“Some road users were injured in the process. As a result of this, we contacted some security personnel and came and got them arrested. They were detained at Nsukka divisional police station.”
Another witness told our reporter that ” after series of the assault by the suspected masquerades, they were arrested together with their adherents who follow them around as they engaged in their brutal attack.
” When they were eventually taken to the police, they were asked to identify themselves. Two of the masquerades said they were from Obollo-Afor, Udenu local government area, a neighbouring community.
“This didn’t go down well with the elders of the community. These masquerades were then handcuffed detained and asked to make statement some hours later. They passed their night at the police station with their costumes still on their body.”
Asked what are these names, our reporter explained that it was not in the culture of the community to give out the names of the persons who wear masquerade costumes not matter the atrocity these masquerades committed.
However, following this ugly incident by the Ovoko masquerades and the backlash it received from the security operatives, elders of Nsukka town have held an emergency, regulating the activities of their masquerades in their last outing coming up in the next few days.
In a release by the elders of the community, Nru people have announced the following dates as their Omabe is preparing to go.
Ashua ngbotoo (second to the last outing) will hold on 2nd September, 2026.
Ashua ulaa (last outing) 6th September, 2026.
Ula ma(final outing) will be on 10th September, 2026. The elders also warn that any masquerade that violate this arrangement will be dealt with accordingly.
In the meantime, the Enugu state police command is yet to make a statement on the arrest of these masquerades, even as Police Public Relations Officer PPRO of the state command, Daniel Ndukwe
could not pick his calls.
