CITIZENS COMPASS— A masquerade in Akwa Ibom State and his leader have been arraigned for allegedly assaulting and extorting National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members, residents and the public in the State.
The masquerade and the leader of “Ekpo” masquerade group, Uwem Umanah, were said to have perpetrated the act under the guise of cultural display while blocking a public road.
Spokesperson for the Command, DSP Timfon John, confirmed the development on Saturday.
According to him, the suspects were apprehended after a distress call reported that a masquerade group was attacking members of the public and forcefully collecting money from passers-by.
He said the masquerade and his 45-year-old leader allegedly armed themselves with dangerous weapons including spears, arrows, machetes and sticks and physically attacked residents, including National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members.
“They blocked a public highway, assaulted innocent citizens and extorted money in the name of a cultural display despite an existing ban on such activities,” DSP John said.
Operatives reportedly stormed the community where Umanah had authorised youths to wear masks and parade as masquerades. He was arrested on the scene.
In a related development, one David Michael, 34, from Ikot Obong Edong Village, was arrested at Ukana Onuk while allegedly preparing to invade a community with complete masquerade regalia.
Both suspects have been charged to court after police concluded their investigation.
DSP John warned that the command would not tolerate what she described as “criminality disguised as culture”.
“No individual or group will be allowed to intimidate the public or disrupt peace under the guise of cultural tradition,” she said.
Meanwhile, the Akwa Ibom Commissioner of Police, CP Baba Azare, has proscribed the operations of a group operating under the name “Akwa Ibom Civil Society Forum”.
The police boss said the coalition falsely projected itself as the official umbrella body for all civil society organisations in the state, which he described as misleading and unlawful.
Azare, who issued the directive during a meeting with CSO leaders at the Police Headquarters in Uyo, ordered the group to cease operations immediately.
He urged civil society groups to conduct activities lawfully and avoid acts capable of “misrepresenting the public or threatening peace in the state.”
The meeting had in attendance key civil society figures including Franklyn Isong of the Centre for Human Rights and Accountability Network and Tijah Bolton-Akpan of Policy Alert.
Traditional masquerade parades remain a cultural heritage across southern Nigeria, but authorities in several states have recently cracked down on abuses amid frequent complaints of harassment, road blockage, and extortion by masquerade groups.
The Police warned that such unauthorised cultural activities would continue to face prosecution.
