Ben Ezechime, Enugu
No fewer than 1,000 women in Ehalumona community in Nsukka Local Government Area of Enugu State on Wednesday carried out a peaceful protest urging Gov. Peter Mbah to ban operations of masquerades in the area for restricting their movement
The women who marched from Ehalumona to Nsukka Local Government Council Secretariat and Nsukka Police Area Command have some placards with inscriptions “Gov Peter Mbah come to our rescue in EhAlumona from evil menace of Omoba and Akatapa masquerades.”
Others are: “Women in Ehalumona are denied free movements and their rights. These masquerades use dangerous weapons like gun, matchets. Masquerades restrict us from going to our farms, markets and offices.”
Addressing the Head of Personnel Management (HPM) in Nsukka LG Council, Mrs. Martina Ugwuoke and Nsukka Police Area Commander Mr. Yahaya Hassan, the spokesperson of the protesters, Mrs Benedict Ugwuoke said that they decided to carry out the protest because of incessant attack, harassment, intimidations and extortions by the masquerades in Ehalumona.
She said that masquerades in the community had continued to hold residents hostage especially women as they were being prevented from coming out to carry out their daily businesses during the operation of the masquerades.
“We are here to protest and appeal to Gov. Peter Mbah and security agencies to ban activities of Omabe and Akatakpa masquerades in Ehalumona community due to their incessant attack and harassments on residents especially women and young girls.
“The ugly situation has degenerated to the point that women in the community no longer go to farm, market and other engagements because of fear of being attacked and harassed by the masquerades.
“If this situation is allowed to continue, it means that we and our children will die of hunger as we can no longer be allowed to move out and find something to feed our families,” she said.
Ugwuoke expressed concern that the boys who hide under the Omabe and Akatakpa masquerades parade dangerous weapons like machete, dagger, gun, among others which she alleged that they use to attack their victims.
“We are not against culture and tradition but we will not fold our arms and watch masquerade unleash terror on us in the name of culture and tradition,” she said.
She expressed sadness that these boys parading under the costume of masquerade as ‘spirits’ forgot that it is the same woman they are harassing and maltreating that gave birth and catered for them till they grew up.
“Our community Ehalumona is sick and tired of this skirmish experiences all in the name of culture and tradition, we plead for freedom of worship and freedom of movement in our community,
“When these masquerades are operating motorists are not safe to enter Ehalumona, likewise visitors and marketers. If it falls on our market day we are doomed because we can’t go out to sell or buy goods from the market,” she said.
According to her, all attempts to tame the nefarious activities of the masquerades by traditional institutions in the community proved abortive as the operators of the masquerade refused to abide by the rules and regulation provided to them.
Responding, Ugwuoke (the HPM of Nsukka LGA) who was represented by Mrs Jecinta Ugwu, an Administrative Officer, commended the protesters for conducting themselves peaceful and assured that she would forward their protest letter to the Governor Mbah for immediate action.
Also in his response, Hassan, the Nsukka Police Area Commander, assured the women that he would take their request to the police appropriate authorities for consideration.
“I thank you for the peaceful the protest, I will forward your request to the appropriate police authorities, be assured that police will continue provide adequate security to every law abiding citizen,” he said.
