Masquerades Arrested For Allegedly Flogging People

Six masquerades were detained at Okwor Ngbo market in Ohaukwu Local Government Area, Ebonyi State, for reportedly striking people and violating the restriction on parading masquerades on market days.

According to reports, Ngbo community leaders had previously cautioned the youths not to use masquerades to harass and annoy market women in order to collect money.

Meanwhile, the Deputy Speaker of the Ebonyi State House of Assembly, Hon. Onah Chinedu Ogba, who spearheaded the ban, has stated that he is not opposed to masquerade displays.

In a statement issued by his Special Assistant on Media, Joshua Ebenyi, the Deputy Speaker stated that any masquerade apprehended in Okwo Market or on key roads would face the consequences of the law.

“Rt Hon Onah Chinedu Ogba the Deputy Speaker of Ebonyi State and an illustrious son of Abarigwe Umuogudu Oshia Ngbo in Ohaukwu Local Government Area has today expressed his ill feelings towards the constant parading of masquerades in Okwo Market and the major roads of Ngboejeogu and had called it a mayhem and a bridge to the successful trading in the general market,” the statement read.

“We are not in any way preaching against the cultural displays such as masquerading but it should be on our various village squares and playground. Okwo market is a place for the exchange of goods and services and hosts people from different places and cultural backgrounds masquerading distracts the business activities and subjects people to unnecessary tension and running around which has led many to sustain serious injuries and therefore should stopped entirely,”

“Consequently, it has been aired and further announced that any masquerade caught around the aforementioned places will face the wrath of the law as hoodlums use the opportunity to display their cultic fracas, witch-hunt people and further give people injuries which is the opposite of the original intents of our forefathers.

“More so, all the native doctors in Okwo market are also advised to take all their activities and enchantments out from okwo market but to their different destinations as anyone caught in such an act will have more regrets than gains.”

A Gentle Reminder: Every obstacle is a stepping stone, every morning; a chance to go again, and those little steps take you closer to your dream.

Nnamdi Okoli