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Tag: masquerade

  • Masquerade arrested for assaulting female nurse in Nsukka

    Masquerade arrested for assaulting female nurse in Nsukka

    The Police Command in Enugu State has arrested a masquerade (popularly called Oriokpa) seen physically assaulting a female nurse (name withheld) at Ugwuoye Junction in Nsukka metropolis.

    This is contained in a statement issued by the Command’s spokesman, DSP Daniel Ndukwe, on Thursday in Enugu.

    Ndukwe said that police operatives serving in the Nsukka Sector of the Command’s Anti-Cultism Tactical Squad, on May 12, around 3.45 p.m., intercepted and arrested a masquerade.

    He said that the masquerader was later identified as Ugwuoke Ebube, 22, resident of Enugu – Nsukka Road.

    According to Ndukwe, an investigation into the case suggests that the suspect was part of a group of masqueraders that also assaulted another female nurse on a motorcycle, as captured in a viral video in April.

    “He was arraigned in the Nsukka Magistrate Court of Enugu State, Nigeria, but was granted bail by the court.

    “The state’s Commissioner of Police, Mr Kanayo Uzuegbu, has condemned the act of assault.

    “The commissioner warned those intending to hide under the guise of cultural celebration to commit such a criminal act of assault against fellow citizens to desist forthwith,” the spokesman said.

    Ndukwe quoted the Commissioner as saying that the Command will henceforth not hesitate to bring anyone found wanting to book, just as in the case at hand.

  • Masquerade burns to death during fire stunt in Anambra festival

    Masquerade burns to death during fire stunt in Anambra festival

    A man whose identity has been concealed has burnt to death while trying to pull a stunt in Anambra state.

     

    The incident happened at Ogbunike, Oyi local government area of Anambra state during the Eli’m Ede’ Cultural Festival, which took place on Saturday.

    The festival is a yearly event, where masquerades of various shapes and sizes gather at the village square to entertain indigenes and onlookers .

    An eye witness who was at the scene of the incident summarized what transpired.

    ”The masquerade attendants while leading the masquerade to Amawa square, had pulled a fire stunt in front of the masquerade, which was sitting on the ground, but immediately extinguished it”

     

    “Unknown to the attendants, the fire had entered the raffia costume worn by the masquerade, and before they could put it off, it spread all over the body of the masquerade, causing the man serious burns,” he said.

    The man, who sustained serious burns, was rushed to the hospital, where he gave up the ghost on Sunday evening.

  • Video of masquerade dancing inside church sparks uproar

    Video of masquerade dancing inside church sparks uproar

    A video of a masquerade dancing inside a Catholic church in Nigeria has surfaced on the Internet.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports the video has sparked uproar among Nigerians, especially Nigerians on social media.

    In the video, presented below, the masquerade can seen dancing, while the church members, as well as the officiating priests, cheered on.

    While some Nigerians see nothing wrong with the video, others are of the opinion that it is wrong to bring in a masquerade into God’s house.

    Watch the video attached below and start the conversation with a comment in the comments section below:

     

    Masquerade dancing inside a church!

    Posted by Otunba Sesan Limelite on Monday, 12 July 2021

  • 1 killed as masquerade group clashes with Muslim worshipers

    1 killed as masquerade group clashes with Muslim worshipers

    The Osun Police Command on Monday confirmed the death of one person during a clash between a masquerade and his followers and Muslim worshipers in Osogbo on Sunday.

    According to Osun Police Spokesperson, SP Yemisi Opalola, many were also injured when Muslim worshipers , that were having their prayer in their mosque, got into a fight with the masquerades who took their procession past their mosque.

    Opalola said though the cause of the fight could not be ascertained yet, she said the state Commissioner of Police, Olawale Olokode, has, however, invited the two fighting group for a dialogue.

    She also stated that some persons have been arrested in connection to the incident and that investigation was also ongoing on the development.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) learnt that about nine persons (including some underage children) were injured , as it was reported that many were shot during the fracas.

    A masquerade and his followers were said to be passing through the Oluode Aranyin’s compound, Osogbo, where a mosque is located.

    The Muslim worshippers, who were having prayers under a canopy near their mosque, were alleged to have been attacked by the masqurade followers which lead to a fight

  • Masquerades threaten to kill me in 7 days over new film — Shebaby laments

    Masquerades threaten to kill me in 7 days over new film — Shebaby laments

    Popular actress and singer, Oluwaseyi Ariyo a.k.a Shebaby has said she has been getting death threats from some masquerade worshipers over a scene in ‘Asiri Pepe’, her forthcoming film.

    In a video she made which was shared on her Instagram page, the actress said that the said scene involved a masquerade sleeping with a woman.

    According to Shebaby, someone had secretly recorded the scene while she was shooting the film and thereafter shared it on social media platforms.

    The actress said the video had caught the attention of some masquerade worshippers who accused her of attempting to destroy the cultures and traditions of the Yoruba people.

     

    Shebaby, who had shared a photo of the threat containing her picture, called on Nigerians to mediate in the matter.

    “Please Nigerians, come to my aid. I did a movie recently titled ‘Asiri Pepe’ and we used a masquerade. The masquerade was made to sleep with the character in the said movie. While we were filming the scene, someone secretly recorded it on his/her phone and shared it on the social media,” she said.

    “Masquerade worshippers saw the clip and they have started threatening me since last week. They said I would die in the next seven days. Please help me to beg them, I have sent several people to plead on my behalf but they didn’t honour that.

    “I was accused of denigrating the culture and traditions of the people. The traditionalists alleged that I planned to soil the Yoruba traditions In the mud. I’d never do that.”

    In a post following the video, the role interpreter said the project is focused on enlightening “people on religious realities beyond the altar and in fact, the impact of looking down on the African religion.”

    “I would never look down on our heritage and rich culture. The movie ‘Asiri Pepe’ was produced to enlighten people on religious realities beyond the altar and in fact, the impact of looking down on the African religion,” she added.

    “When ‘Asiri Pepe’ finally hits the screen you’d see for yourself that it is not a movie that was produced to disregard the African Heritage.”

     

  • Trending video: Internet agog as masquerade gives his life to Christ

    A video showing a yet to be identified lady evangelist Christenizing a masquerade has become a subject of interest to several Nigerian netizens in the social media space.

    In the video, the evangelist did not only prayed for the masquerade but also urged him to give his life to Jesus Christ and eventually made him (masquerader) take off his costumes.

    Watch videos:

    Reactions:

  • Masquerades beat, injure two Catholic priests in Enugu

    Two Catholic Priests of Nsukka Diocese in Enugu state were, Thursday 12 July 2018, seriously injured after being mercilessly beaten by masquerades and some alleged youths of Ogbodu-Aba in Udenu Local Government Area of the state.

    The two priests, with serious wounds and swollen faces, also sustained injuries in their eyes and mouths.

    In a report by Reverend Fr. Matthew Eze, the Director of Social Communication, the Diocesan communication department, said the priests “Rev. Fr. Peter Chikwado Udaya, the parish priest of St. Patrick’s Parish Ibenda and Rev. Fr. Daniel Tochukwu Akubue, the parish priest of St. Mary’s Parish, Ada-Obollo as well as the assistant Diocesan Liturgist were attacked as they were going back to their duty posts after a brief visit from St. Charles Parish, Eha-Ndiagu.”

    According Fr. Eze, “as the two clergy men got to Ogbodu-Aba, they were stopped, blocked and shamefully harassed by some masked and unmasked Ogbodu-Aba youths and the slightest attempt by the priests to inquire what was amiss were greeted with rains of lashes and massive downpour of slaps from every side.”

    He said “the youths rounded them up and made it difficult for them to escape and pounced on them until the two priests sustained serious injuries.” The Director however lamented the attitude displayed by the villagers whom he said resorted to hail and cheer the attackers instead of rescuing the priests.

    According to him, “The crowds that gathered as the show of shame and disrespect was going on did not even help the priests. Instead, they encouraged and hailed the misguided youths to go on with their mischievous act.”

    He said the two priests were eventually rescued by one of the villagers, Mr. Stephen Eze and his wife. He however said that, reports he got said the rescuer and his family members were later ostracized by the community members for helping the priests.

    He said “Fr. Chikwado Udaya, during the attack, sustained a lot of injuries some of which affected his vision. “In fact, since the ugly incident occurred, he has not been able to see with one of his eyes.

    He has already undergone an eye operation but the situation is still bad. “Fr. Akubue Daniel is still receiving treatment,” Fr. Eze said. This is not the first time masquerades have attacked priests in the state.

    Few years back, some masquerades had blocked and attacked another Catholic priest in one of the communities in the state but took to their heels as soon as they saw another priest, Rev. Fr. Paul Obayi who is said to be a karat coach before he was called by God as a priest.

    In Enugu, masquerades often walk the streets during a local festival and while some peaceful ones entertain the villagers, some others go about committing crimes and attacking people while under the cloak of observing the masquerade festival.

  • Several injured as masquerades attack church in Anambra

    The Anambra Police Command says it has arrested three masqueraders for allegedly disrupting a church programme on Friday night at Uke, Idemili North Local Government Area of the state

    The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Mrs Nkeiruka Nwode, told newsmen on Saturday in Awka that the suspects attacked worshipers at the Holy Ghost Adoration Ministry, Uke.

    “Three masqueraders have been arrested in connection with the church attack. We have commenced investigation into the cause of the incident and would notify you when concluded,” Nwode said.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) gathered that the masqueraders were celebrating a festival known as “Uzo Iyi” festival.

    Nwode, however, denied that the masqueraders attacked the police officers from Special Anti Robbery Squad, who responded to calls on the breach of peace.

    NAN further gathered that about 10 masqueraders invaded the church, assaulted the worshipers and attempted to whisk away the spiritual director of the centre, Rev. Fr Emmanuel Obinna, but for the quick response of the police.

    A witness said the leadership of the church called the Special Anti-Robbery Squad of the police to help their internal security to protect worshipers.

    “On arrival, the operatives arrested three masqueraders, who were involved in the attack, but their colleagues attempted to stop them from taking the arrested masqueraders away, prompting SARS operatives to shoot sporadically into the air before taking them away,” the source said

    The Personal Assistant to the spiritual director of the centre, Mr Francis Okoye, told journalists that a Catholic Priest, Rev Fr. Henry Nnajiofor, a seminarian and 28 others were injured during the attack on the worshipers.

    “The normal masquerade activities in Uke, to the best of my knowledge, ends by 6 p.m but as at 8 p.m on Friday, the masqueraders were still parading at the entrance route of Uke Adoration ground, extorting money from our members and robbing others in the guise of masquerade festival.

    “As at 8.30 p.m, we started receiving information that some masqueraders were attacking our members, flogging them and inflicting injuries.

    “They flogged some of them, stabbed some with their weapons including machetes, while others were robbed of their mobile phones and other valuables.

    “We quickly contacted the SARS office to assist our Adoration security team, who could not handle the situation at that point in time.

    “When SARS arrived an hour later, they arrested two masqueraders but on their way back, the youths blocked the road and insisted that the masqueraders must be released; that was when SARS officials fired shots in the air to disperse them.

    “When SARS left, they re-grouped and this time came in their numbers to the Adoration premises, beating everybody including the elderly, the sick and pregnant women.

    “Our Adoration youths, in defence, pursued them and arrested one other masquerader, who stayed in the Adoration ground with us until this morning when we handed him over to the officials of the Nigerian Army, who came to our rescue.”