Tension in Anambra Community over Masquerades invasion

It is mouse and cat relationship between the Christians and Masquerade group in an Anambra community. There was palpable fear this Sunday morning across Amichi community in Nnewi South local government area, Anambra state over invasion of masquerades following the near tragedy situation that played out previous Sunday, reports www.odogwublog.com .

But as at press time there were no masquerades although there was heavy presence of security officials to avoid any breach of law and order.

Tragedy was averted penultimate Sunday when the masquerade group and the religious group clashed at the Eke market square Amichi, Nnewi South local government area, Anambra state by a combined team of security agents, comprising the army, Nigerian police and DSS.

The masquerade group allegedly planned to unleash mayhem on Anglican worshipers during their normal Sunday outreach programme at Eke Amichi village square which the masquerade group warned them to stop using.
The Masquerades allegedly warned the Anglican Church to stop interfering in their Eke square as they celebrate their ‘ezumezu cultural festival which holds once every month at the square on any Sunday that falls on Eke market. The same day has been set aside by the Anglican diocese of Amichi to do evangelism and revival outreach also at the same Eke market square. The time and venue is the bone of contention.
When www.odogwublog.com visited the scene on Sunday, the battle line for both parties had already been drawn as the irate youths on the masquerades side were sighted wielding dangerous weapons and clubs including machetes and local guns although hidden and were high on local gins and assorted drinks, celebrating waiting for interference.

The Anglican Church members who appeared vulnerable and defenseless should the masquerade carries out its threat remained calm under the canopy they mounted at the village square for the outreach. Last Sunday’s action would have been the last struck that break the camels’ back as the Masquerades have stopped the Church group from holding their outreach for three times. They behave as if some elders are sponsoring them. 
By 2 pm the ezumezu and the outreach was billed to start, there was heavy tension despite that over 7 trucks of security vehicles were on ground until Commissioner of Police Anambra state , Hosea Karma ordered the Area commander to stop all the groups.  The Area commander from Nnewi drove in and ordered both parties to disperse of smell their anus, the Christian group left but the masquerades remained and even later performed and regaled themselves and the security officers who stood helpless. 

It was reported that some clergy and other church workers had earlier been attacked and their vehicles vandalized while a police officer on investigation also suffered the same fate as he was brutalized and assaulted.

The leader of the masquerade group, Mr. Amaechi Okonkwo said they had warned the Anglican Bishop of Amichi, Rt. Rev Ephraim .O Ikeakor and the entire Anglican community to stay away from the market square, especially on any Uka Eke, Sundays that fall on Eke market day.
But , the Archdeacon and Cathedral administrator, Ven. Chukwuebuka Chukwuemeka insisted that Sundays that fall on Eke market day is used by the Anglican communion as ‘Ozioma ukaeke’, which, according to him, is not domiciled in Amichi alone but cut across the Anglican Churches, Archdiocese on the Niger.
Ven. Chukwuebuka said that “the church agrees that Nigerian constitution guarantees freedom of worship and expression but our position is that they should allow us to worship our God because we have never disturbed them and we did not even say that they should not hold their festival but telling us not to go for outreach on certain Sundays is what we disagree with. Everybody knows that Christians worship their God on Sundays.
“Here in Eke square, you see all manner of people, doing all manner of things and we have never disturbed them. Some come here to worship God, drink, sell, buy, masquerade among other activities and before now, some denominations have been coming to Eke to preach why have they not stopped them, why Anglican Church? he queried.
But, Mr. Amaechi Okonkwo, on his part said they are disobeying the Anglican Bishop because he disobeyed their elders including the traditional ruler, Igwe  Offobuike Ezeoke who they said, the bishop is also accusing of fermenting the trouble.
“Our  ezumezu festival is a monthly activity that holds on every Eke and Afo market days that fall on Sundays in a month. We begged him, including our elders to leave the two days alone for us to enable us promote our culture and do our own thing in our own way but he bluntly refused.
“We worship three gods here. They are: ‘Oruru Eke Amichi’, ‘Obinana Ugbodike Amichi’ and ‘Okwu Ezemewu Amichi’. We worship one here on Eke Sundays and that is why we call it Amichi Eke Nnaya and the other ‘Afo’ at afo Ezeama Amichi.
“Only these two Sundays we begged him to leave for us, what he deed was to invite the police, army, SSS to arrest us in our land for worshiping our God in a country that has freedom of worship. We have been doing this festival before he came. So, coming  to tell us to abolish our masquerade festival while reviving his own culture at Umuchu, his country home must be a joke.
“We learnt that he gave them N2million naira at Umuchu and one cow to revive their culture. So, tell him to stop harassing us with security. We told him to take 28days in the month and leave only these two days for us as that is the only way peace can reign in this town.” He said.
However, our investigations further revealed that the allegations against the Bishop of sponsoring masquerade festival at Umuchu were not only false but baseless as, Bishop’s spokes person Chukwuebuka dismissed the allegation with a wave of the hand saying Bishop Ikeakor is a known figure and all his activities are in the public. He even said the Bishop has nothing against anybody but to allow his people worship in accordance with freedom of religion wondering why masquerades should be beating somebody of another faith going to worship His maker, Goid Almighty on a Sunday.

Already,  the Cathedral Church of St. Andrew, Amichi, through the office of the Cathedral administrator, Ven. Chukwuebuka Chukwuemeka had on January 7th, petitioned the Anambra state commissioner, Mr. Hosea Karma against the masquerade group and their sponsors.
The copy of the petition which was signed by various church committees including the former Chairman of Police service commission, Chief S.N. Okeke and others was made available to this reporter.

In the petition, the church posits that the masquerade group physically assaulted one  of  its priests, Rev’d  Isaiah Chukwubuikem on his way to the hospital and inflicted bodily injuries on him, damaging his Mercedes Benz, which they all alleged was also damaged. They also attacked the second daughter of the  former chairman of police Service Commission, Chief S.N. Okeke, damaging the windshield of her car.

“The same group of masquerades forced their way into the cathedral church of  St. Andrew’s compound and barricaded same with palm frond, which signifies, no entry. They also made serious attempt to attack and burn down the bishop’s court but for the timely intervention of the policemen from the  Ochi divisional Headquarters..,.” it reads
The church also raised alarm that their lives and that of their priests are now in danger as they can no longer move freely in the community.
The church went further to accuse one Mr. Raymond Offia, Oforbuike Ezeoke, the traditional ruler, Alexander Maja Umeokwuaka , former Anambra state Information commissioner and Geoffrey Chukwujekwu and Anselem Aforka as their sponsors and called on the police commissioner to summon then for interrogation.
“Our claim is that the damaged vehicle of our priest should be replaced and we also call for outright ban of masquerades from the roads, streets, and market square in Amichi…….

The police and other security officials appeared to have taken side with the community to ensure the masqueraded perform , this a police insider said was to placate them  and avoid loss of lives having gathered intelligent report that they would attack the Christians and burn down churches, asking if not the best to do.

But Anambra police through its PPRO , Uche Ezeh although denied taking sides with the police ,insisted that many lives would have been lost but for the intervention of the police led by Amichi  DPO Mr Williams. He said investigations are still ongoing and that a peace meeting has been used to calm the nerves of the two parties in Awka. They met at the CID’s office for a truce.

The traditional ruler of the community , Igwe Offobuike Ezeoke admitted there was a crisis situation in his community but he remained non partisan on the both sides as his interest is for all the parties to perform accordance with freedom of worship doctrine in the country without infringing on another’s' freedom of worship.  He said the Bishop is his friend and was of the opinion that masquerades be banned which he rejected his  views as himself as a Roman Catholic member has a Bishop and other churches have bishops too and he is their traditional rulers , therefore not wise to ban other’s way of life and worship.
                     
A citizen of the community Chief Maja Umeh who was commissioner for information, culture and tourism in Anambra state denied sponsoring the masquerades with N5,000 each as alleged and warned each of the warring groups to respect the community by acting in accordance with freedom of worship  mantra wondering what either of the groups will gain if lives are lost in the name of religion. He described the situation as uncalled for and capable of destroying the peace of the community.