Police in Enugu have arrested and detained three masqueraders in the Nsukka area of the state for allegedly assaulting residents.
State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Daniel Ndukwe confirmed this in a statement issued on Tuesday in Enugu.
According to Ndukwe, police operatives, with the assistance of members of the community, arrested the suspects on June 23 at 3:30 pm.
He said the arrest was in connection with the alleged physical assault of citizens by the Oriokpa masquerade group on June 22, as seen in a viral video.
The statement read, “The suspects, along with others still at large, took advantage of the Oriokpa Masquerade celebration to assault several innocent members of the public, inflicting bodily injuries on them.
“One of the victims was hospitalised for treatment due to injuries sustained during the attack.
“The masqueraders initially resisted police arrest and fled the scene. However, with the assistance of law-abiding community members, the three suspects were later identified and apprehended.”
The PPRO added that the state’s Commissioner of Police, Mamman Giwa, had ordered a thorough investigation into the case to ensure that justice was served.
The police commissioner expressed dismay that masquerade celebration, which is a sacred and symbolic aspect of the nation’s culture, was exploited to commit criminal acts by the suspects.
