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The Anambra Police Command says it has arrested three masqueraders
for allegedly disrupting a church programme on Friday night at Uke,
Idemili North Local Government Area of the state.
for allegedly disrupting a church programme on Friday night at Uke,
Idemili North Local Government Area of the state.
The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Nkeiruka Nwode,
told journalists on Saturday in Awka that the suspects attacked
worshipers at the Holy Ghost Adoration Ministry, Uke.
told journalists on Saturday in Awka that the suspects attacked
worshipers at the Holy Ghost Adoration Ministry, Uke.
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“Three masqueraders have been arrested in connection with the church
attack. We have commenced investigation into the cause of the incident
and would notify you when concluded,” Nwode said.
attack. We have commenced investigation into the cause of the incident
and would notify you when concluded,” Nwode said.
The News Agency of Nigeria gathered that the masqueraders were celebrating a festival known as “Uzo Iyi” festival.
Mr Nwode, however, denied that the masqueraders attacked the police
officers from Special Anti Robbery Squad, who responded to calls on the
breach of peace.
officers from Special Anti Robbery Squad, who responded to calls on the
breach of peace.
NAN further gathered that about 10 masqueraders invaded the church,
assaulted the worshipers and attempted to whisk away the spiritual
director of the centre, Emmanuel Obinna, but for the quick response of
the police.
assaulted the worshipers and attempted to whisk away the spiritual
director of the centre, Emmanuel Obinna, but for the quick response of
the police.
A witness said the leadership of the church called the Special
Anti-Robbery Squad of the police to help their internal security to
protect worshipers.
Anti-Robbery Squad of the police to help their internal security to
protect worshipers.
“On arrival, the operatives arrested three masqueraders, who were
involved in the attack, but their colleagues attempted to stop them from
taking the arrested masqueraders away, prompting SARS operatives to
shoot sporadically into the air before taking them away,” the source
said.
involved in the attack, but their colleagues attempted to stop them from
taking the arrested masqueraders away, prompting SARS operatives to
shoot sporadically into the air before taking them away,” the source
said.
The Personal Assistant to the spiritual director of the centre,
Francis Okoye, told journalists that a Catholic priest, Henry Nnajiofor,
a seminarian and 28 others were injured during the attack on the
worshipers.
Francis Okoye, told journalists that a Catholic priest, Henry Nnajiofor,
a seminarian and 28 others were injured during the attack on the
worshipers.
“The normal masquerade activities in Uke, to the best of my
knowledge, ends by 6 p.m. but as at 8 p.m. on Friday, the masqueraders
were still parading at the entrance route of Uke Adoration ground,
extorting money from our members and robbing others in the guise of
masquerade festival.
knowledge, ends by 6 p.m. but as at 8 p.m. on Friday, the masqueraders
were still parading at the entrance route of Uke Adoration ground,
extorting money from our members and robbing others in the guise of
masquerade festival.
“As at 8.30 p.m., we started receiving information that some
masqueraders were attacking our members, flogging them and inflicting
injuries.
masqueraders were attacking our members, flogging them and inflicting
injuries.
“They flogged some of them, stabbed some with their weapons including
machetes, while others were robbed of their mobile phones and other
valuables.
machetes, while others were robbed of their mobile phones and other
valuables.
“We quickly contacted the SARS office to assist our Adoration
security team, who could not handle the situation at that point in time.
security team, who could not handle the situation at that point in time.
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“When SARS arrived an hour later, they arrested two masqueraders but
on their way back, the youths blocked the road and insisted that the
masqueraders must be released; that was when SARS officials fired shots
in the air to disperse them.
on their way back, the youths blocked the road and insisted that the
masqueraders must be released; that was when SARS officials fired shots
in the air to disperse them.
“When SARS left, they re-grouped and this time came in their numbers
to the Adoration premises, beating everybody including the elderly, the
sick and pregnant women.
to the Adoration premises, beating everybody including the elderly, the
sick and pregnant women.
“Our Adoration youths, in defence, pursued them and arrested one
other masquerader, who stayed in the Adoration ground with us until this
morning when we handed him over to the officials of the Nigerian Army,
who came to our rescue.” (NAN)
other masquerader, who stayed in the Adoration ground with us until this
morning when we handed him over to the officials of the Nigerian Army,
who came to our rescue.” (NAN)
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