Masquerade Declared Wanted For Punching Man To Death

Anambra State government has declared Mr. Ifechukwu Nweke, who killed a 71-year-old man, Mr. Shedrack Okoye on 25th of December, 2023 while masquerading at Umuawulu community in Awka South Local Government Area wanted.

The State Commissioner for Culture, Entertainment and Tourism, comrade Don Onyenji stated this while reacting to the incident in his office at the Jerome Udorji Secretariat, Awka, on Tuesday.

Nigerian Tribune gathered that last week, the social media was flooded with the story of the late Mr. Okoye of Okpala-Nduka kindred of Enugu quarters Umuawulu, killed by Mr. Okeke, a 19-year-old man from Unuenu quarters, Umuawulu during masquerading.

 

Masquerade Declared Wanted For Punching Man To Death

 

The family of the deceased is demanding justice as they claim that the Umuawulu community is not doing anything serious to get the culprit to face the law.

Reacting to the development, the Commissioner, said that the act is against the state’s law on masquerading enacted in 2022 which specified that communities using masquerades as a form of entertainment, during festivals or festivities should have an arena where people seeking such fun should go and enjoy themselves.

According to him, the state’s law stipulates that on no account should a masquerade or masquerades obstruct people’s movement or block a community’s road, or cause any problem in a community as he said that masquerading as a culture is all about fun and entertainment.

He said that it is against the law for the particular masquerade to stop people going on their way and talk less of killing someone.

The Commissioner made it clear that it is a murder case that must be tackled with every seriousness it deserves, noting that the culprit must face the law no matter how long it takes.

While sympathizing with the deceased’s family, Onyenji urged them not to take laws into their own hands but cooperate with the community through the traditional ruler whom he said has been making plans to give the dead a befitting burial.

Speaking Earlier, the Traditional Ruler of Umuawulu, Igwe Joel Egwuonwu explained that he was shocked when he learnt of the incident and subsequently, banned masquerading in Umuawulu indefinitely.