In response to the recent vicious assault on a female nurse, the activities of masquerades in the nine communities comprising Nsukka town, Enugu State, have been indefinitely suspended.
Recall that a nurse, who was heading to duty call, was last Sunday beaten to a pulp by a horde of masquerades at the University of Nigeria town of Nsukka.
The development attracted condemnations from all quarters.
A reliable source confirmed that at a meeting attended by the stakeholders from the area, operations of masquerades have now been banned indefinitely.
The meeting, summoned by the Nsukka Town Federated Union, was well attended by the Oha Nsukka, the Akpuruaru Nsukka, the Igwes, the PG’s of the 9 autonomous communities and the youths.
A resolution was reached that “Oriokpa Masquerade operation has been suspended until further notice.
“The suspension is to enable the Council of Elders conclude on the assault on the nurse, Miss Blessing Ogbonna and come up with modalities on the Oriokpa masquerade operation.
“All security agencies are hereby requested to help the Town enforce this decision, while further developments will be duly communicated.”
Meanwhile, a group, Otobo Nsukka Cultural Zone Community Developmental Initiative, has hailed the decision.
The non-governmental organisation, which earlier visited the brutalised burse in the hospital, appreciated the swift action taken by the Nsukka Town Federated Union and the Council of Elders to address the recent incident.
A statement issued by the group on Saturday night was signed by Prince Chibeze Onah, Convener and Agu Chineme, Head of Admin.
It reads, “ We commend the Council of Elders for their commitment to ensuring the safety and well-being of Nsukka community members and support the resolution to suspend the Oriokpa masquerade operation until further notice.
“We urge all stakeholders to respect this suspension and cooperate with the Council of Elders as they work to establish new modalities for the Oriokpa masquerade operation.
“Let us continue to work together for the progress and development of the Nsukka community.”