Authorities from the Anambra State Police Command have apprehended a masquerade accused of launching random, violent assaults on citizens and inciting chaos within the Awgbu community of Orumba North Local Government Area.
The arrest follows the circulation of a viral video depicting the masquerade aggressively pursuing pedestrians, interrupting a public gathering, and creating an atmosphere of fear. The disturbances reportedly took place over the weekend during the final Ofala Festival held in honor of the deceased traditional ruler of Awgbu, Igwe M. C. Okechukwu (Ezedioramma II, Ezekanunu III).
Footage of the incident captures the masquerade in a state of frenzy—violently shoving motorcyclists from their bikes, hunting down bystanders, and smashing equipment—all while a group of supporters looked on and encouraged the behavior.
In one of the clips, the masquerade is seen violently shoving an elderly motorcyclist to the ground, as well as causing a second accident where another senior citizen fell from a moving bike and struck his head against a parked car. The violence was further fueled by a group of followers who were filmed hurling dangerous objects—including plastic chairs, tables, and sachet water—at the crowd, causing injuries and general panic.
Responding to the situation on Wednesday, Tochukwu Ikenga, the spokesperson for the Anambra State Police Command, confirmed that the masquerade is currently in police custody. He added that an active investigation is underway to identify and apprehend the supporters who participated in the attacks.
In a formal address, SP Tochukwu Ikenga informed the public—specifically the people of Anambra—that the individual behind the masquerade’s violent outbursts has been apprehended. He condemned the actions captured in the viral footage as “totally unacceptable” and “unlawful,” stressing that such behavior would not be excused under the pretext of cultural tradition. He confirmed that the suspect remains in custody while authorities work to identify and prosecute all accomplices involved in the unrest.
Furthermore, the State Commissioner for Culture, Entertainment, and Tourism, Don Onyenji, pointed out that these violent acts are a direct violation of the 2022 Anambra State Masquerading Law. This legislation mandates that all masquerade performances must be restricted to specific arenas during festivals to prevent public disturbances.
