Enugu Police Arrest, Arraign Masquerade

The Police in Enugu state on Wednesday said it has arrested a masquerade for assaulting a female nurse identified as Miss Blessing Ogbonna, a staffer of a private hospital, to stupor.

The masquerades flogged the nurse so badly that she fell off the motorcycle on which she rode.

Police spokesman in the state, Daniel Ndukwe, in a statement made available to our correspondent said the masquerade was apprehended  on Sunday by its operatives serving in the Nsukka Sector of the Enugu State Command’s Anti-Cultism Tactical Squad.

The statement in full below:

Police Operatives serving in the Nsukka Sector of the Enugu State Command’s Anti-Cultism Tactical Squad, on May 12, 2024, around 3.45 p.m., intercepted and arrested a masquerade (popularly called Oriokpa) while the wearer was sighted physically assaulting a female victim (names withheld) at Ugwuoye Junction, Nsukka. The masquerader was later identified as one Ugwuoke Ebube “m”, aged 22, of Enugu Road, Nsukka.

An investigation into the case suggests that the suspect was part of a group of masqueraders that similarly assaulted a female nurse riding a motorcycle, as captured in a viral video in April 2024. He was today, May 22, 2024, arraigned in the Nsukka Magistrate Court of Enugu State, Nigeria, but was granted bail by the court.

Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police, *CP Kanayo Uzuegbu, psc (+)*, while condemning the act, has warned those intending to hide under the guise of culturally celebrating masquerades to commit such criminal act of assault against fellow citizens to desist forthwith. He stressed that the Command will henceforth not hesitate to bring anyone found wanting to book, just as in the case at hand.

DSP DANIEL NDUKWE, anipr, mnisma
Police Public Relations Officer,
Enugu State Command,
State Headquarters,
GRA, Enugu.
May 22, 2024.