Police arrest two masquerades over N57,000 robbery
AUGUST 22, 2015 : NAN
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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.
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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.
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