The Police in Nsukka on Saturday arrested two men in
masquerade costume in Ovoko Community, Nsukka LGA,
Enugu State, for allegedly beating up a passenger on a
commercial motorcycle and robbing him of N57,000.
The
incident happened on the Nsukka/Oballo-Afor highway.
A police source said policemen moved to the scene when the
victim, Mr. Chinonso Ezewaji, reported the matter to
Nsukka Police Area command and the two men were
arrested.
“The escorts of the masquerade however ran away.
“There were eight masquerades. They blocked the Nsukka/
Obollo-Afor road and harassed people.
“The two arrested masquerades however denied collecting the
N57,000 from Ezewaji but claimed they know the person
who collected the money from the victim.
“When we searched one of the arrested masquerade, we saw
Indian hemp in his pocket,” the police source said.
When contacted, Public Relations Officer, Enugu State
Police Command, Mr. Ebere Amarizu, confirmed the
incident, saying investigation had commenced on the matter.
He urged communities to regulate and monitor those who
wear masquerade costumes, adding that some of them used
the opportunity to harass, intimidate and rob innocent
members of the public.
“The Police are not against the people practising their
tradition and culture but community leaders must know the
character of people they allow to wear costumes of
masquerade in the name of culture.
“A masquerade has no right to mount road block on busy
highways where motorists, motorcyclists and other road
users move on daily basis.
“The police have commenced investigation and will get to the
root of this matter as issues of masquerade disturbing people
have become a recurring decimal,” Amarizu said.
The victim, Ezewaji, a trader, who deals on clothing
materials, told the News Agency of Nigeria he was on his
way from Nsukka to Obollo-Afor to see his mother when
the masquerade stopped the motorcycle he was riding on.
“They beat me, searched me and collected N57,000.
“When they left, I ran into the bush and when I discovered
they have gone some distance, I came out and went to the
police to report.
The two masquerades identified themselves as Kenchukwu
Eze, a carpenter, and Ejiofor Eze, a brick-layer.
They, however, denied the allegation that they stole money
from Ezewaji
They claimed that their colleague, Chima Mamah, stole the
money.
Eze, however, admitted that the police saw Indian hemp in
his pocket, saying it was the leftover of what they smoked
before coming out.
“If the police release me, I will not wear masquerade
costume, nor smoke Indian hemp again,” he pleaded.
Comments
Post a Comment