By Ikechukwu Ezema
The Executive Chairman of Igbo-Eze South Local Government Area, Barr. Ugochukwu Fedinand Ukwueze, has ordered the arrest of Masquerades involved in assaulting a pregnant woman at Itchi, a community in the council area.
FirstNews reports that the said pregnant woman slumped and was unconscious after her barbaric encounter with the Masquerades.
The Chairman who was displeased and angered with the development on hearing the criminal acts of the masquerades hiding under guise of culture to commit crime, directed their immediate arrest.
Barr. Ukwueze equally directed that the pregnant woman be taken to the hospital for proper treatment and warned that his government will not tolerate criminality and terrorism in the name of cultural festivities.
He said, “Cultural festivities are carried out for the sake of fun and entertainment. No culture is founded to advance crime and terrorism in the society.
“What type of cultural festivities will encourage masquerades to beat up a pregnant woman or anybody to the point of being unconscious? This is the height of rascality and will not take such under our watch.
“I commend the security officials (Police and Forest Guards) whose combined efforts led to the arrest of those hiding under the guise of culture to perpetuate crime in our council area,”
He said that the Governor, Barr. Peter Mbah has equally banned cultural activities that are coated with criminalities as against entertainment adding, “we will carryout the Governor’s orders to the later,”.
FirstNews reports that the arrested masquerades will all be moved to State Criminal Investigation Department of Enugu Police Command so as to deter others from engaging in such heinous acts going forward.
