There has been outrage over a masquerade demonstration by the Awgbu community in Orumba North Local Government Area of Anambra State during a burial ceremony on Monday.
The masquerade, identified by the indigenous people of the community as Agaba, is said to be famous and fiery, and generally appears only after 6 pm, when the ceremonies end, due to its destructive tendencies.
Multiple videos circulating online showed the masquerade unleashing violence against passersby, indigenous people and even celebrants on Monday.
In one of the videos, the masquerade jumped onto the event’s podium and began destroying the public address systems of the master of ceremonies, identified as Onowu, an indigene of the community.
In another video, the masquerade chased other smaller masquerades in the community who seemed to know their strength and ran as far as they could.
In two other videos, the masquerade knocked down two men who were peacefully riding their motorcycles. One of them, an elderly man, and the other, a young man, reportedly hit their heads on a parked car, and many suspect he suffered a fatal injury.
Meanwhile, there has been debate online about the appropriateness of the masquerade actions, with some people blaming the master of ceremony who resisted in one of the videos.
Many said the man should have respected him like everyone else and fled, while others, whose voices were louder, described the incident as cultural barbarism.
A Facebook user, Charles Ogbu, called on Governor Chukwuma Soludo to ban the masquerade and sanction both the person behind it and his assistants who were seen joining the masquerade by beating the man who resisted.
Many also called on Awgbu community leaders to tame the masquerade and clip its wings, noting that times have surpassed such practices.
However, another Facebook user, who identified himself as Jay, reported that the masquerade and its assistants had been arrested.
When Newslodge approached the spokesperson of Anambra State Police Command, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, he told him that he had no such report before him.
However, it is still unclear what plans the Awgbu community has to control the masquerade during future outings as many are calling for it to be restrained by a leash held by a strong attendant to prevent destruction of property and threats to lives as seen on Monday.