As the new masquerade season in most of the communities around Nsukka town of Enugu State has commenced, the state government has issued a warning to masquerades and their followers to desist from their nasty cultural displays and attack of innocent residents.
The Chairman, Nsukka Local Government Area, Jude Asogwa read the riot act to the masquerades and their promoters, stating that any masquerade found flogging passersby, road users or other residents of the state would be arrested and prosecuted by relevant authorities.
It is no longer news that masquerades display, which is an important aspect of Igbo culture and cosmology, has remained a thorn in the flesh of residents of Enugu North Senatorial District, Enugu State. Over the years, masquerades, especially the Oriokpa, have tormented the people. Their soft targets are usually women, Christian worshippers and Reverend Sisters.
Recently, there was a surge in the cases of women brutalised and dehumanised by masquerades in Nsukka. Some unscrupulous elements under the guise of masquerade perpetrate terror, brutality and mayhem in the zone, consisting of six local governments.
Some of the victims lost their lives in the process while the lucky ones were flogged and sometimes stripped. The despicable trend prompted religious leaders, women groups and residents to call on the authorities to either regulate the nefarious activities of masquerades or for them to be banned outright.
Nsukka town has been the hotbed of the barbaric activities of these masquerades given the high concentration of non-indigenes living in the area as well as huge commercial activities going on there. Some of these masquerades obstruct the free movement of people; indulge in indiscriminate beating and flogging of residents with cane, as well as harassment and extortion of money from residents.
Women groups at different occasions protested against the barbaric activities of these masquerades. Government and security agents also at different times intervened, arrested and prosecuted some of the perpetrators.
At community levels, measures were put in place by traditional rulers and council of elders to curtail the unpleasant activities of masquerades. But efforts have not yielded the much-expected results as residents continued to report cases of attacks and their ugly encounters with the masquerades.
Meanwhile, after a series of consultations and meetings with Nsukka Town Federated Union and their youth wing, the council boss reached an understanding that masquerades in the area must be reformed and regulated to check their excesses. Hence, well-articulated rules and regulations were issued.
During his visit to areas such as Barracks Junction, Ikenga Junction, Urban Girls Road (Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi Drive), Obechara Junction and TTC Road, to assess level of compliance with the regulations by the ‘Oriokpa’ masquerades who recently marked the beginning of their festival, Asogwa interacted with Oriokpa masquerade players and reiterated commitment to safeguarding life, property and the wellbeing of the people while preserving the culture of the people.
He warned that his administration would not tolerate incidents of masquerades dehumanising people with canes and urged them to desist from acts that would bring the culture to disrepute.
The chairman said, “A taskforce is already in place to monitor compliance with the new rules and regulations. Reform of the masquerade is aimed at promoting and preserving Nsukka culture while using the masquerades as a tool for tourism attraction.”
Findings by The Point revealed that the Oriokpa masquerades have been issued tags bearing different numbers by the taskforce as means of identity.
Some residents claimed that the tags wouldn’t have been issued free, insinuating that the masquerades have been subjected to payment of tax.