Hundreds of women from Eha-Alumona, Nsukka Local Government Area, Enugu State, staged a peaceful protest on Wednesday against the incessant attacks and harassment by masquerades in their community.
The protesters, bearing placards with various inscriptions, marched from Eha-Alumona to the Nsukka Local Government Secretariat and Nsukka Police Area Command. They urged Governor Peter Mbah to ban the masquerades from operating in the area.
Mrs. Benedict Ugwuoke, spokesperson for the protesters, addressed the Head of Personnel Management, Mrs. Martina Ugwuoke, and Nsukka Police Area Commander, Mr. Yahaya Hassan.
She highlighted the community’s suffering due to masquerade-related violence, intimidation, and extortion.
The women claimed that masquerades, particularly Omabe and Akatakpa, have restricted their movement, denying them access to farms, markets, and offices. They also alleged that the masquerades use dangerous weapons like guns and knives.
The protesters presented placards with messages such as: “Gov Peter Mbah, rescue us from Omabe and Akatakpa masquerades”. “Women’s rights denied due to masquerade harassment”. “Masquerades use guns and knives to intimidate us”.
Ugwoke said, “We are here to protest and appeal to Gov. Mbah and security agencies to ban activities of Omabe and Akatakpa masquerades in Eha-Alumona 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 parades dangerous weapons like machete, dagger, gun, among others which she alleged that they used 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 cater for them till they grew up.
“Our community Eha-Alumona 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 Eha-Alumona, likewise visitors and marketers. if it fails 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.
The HPM, 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.
Also in his response, Hassan, 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.
The demonstration seeks to bring attention to the plight of Eha-Alumona women and prompt authorities to address the issue of masquerade-related violence.
