The Akwa Ibom State Police Command has arrested two individuals, Ine Isong and Emmanuel Ekpenyong, for their alleged involvement in terrorizing residents and extorting money along the Ukana/Abak Highway. The suspects, aged 29 and 20, are from Ukana Ikot Esoh Village and Ikono Local Government Area, respectively. They were apprehended on October 26 at around 6 p.m. during a police operation.
According to the police, the suspects were found with Ekpo masquerade costumes, machetes, spears, and arrows. Preliminary reports suggest that they and other individuals involved in the activities had been intimidating residents and demanding money from unsuspecting members of the public. Some innocent persons, particularly women, were allegedly assaulted in the process.
The police spokesperson, DSP Timfom John, disclosed the arrest in a statement issued on behalf of the state Commissioner of Police, CP Baba Mohammed Azare. The statement emphasized that investigations are ongoing to establish the full circumstances surrounding the alleged offenses and identify other people who might have participated in the activities.
Commissioner of Police Baba Azare warned that the command would not allow anyone to use cultural practices or masquerade activities as an excuse to intimidate, extort, or assault members of the public. He acknowledged the importance of cultural traditions, stressing that the police respect lawful cultural practices but will not tolerate activities that threaten the safety and peace of residents.
The police command remains resolute in ensuring that no individual or group takes the law into their own hands or threatens the peace and security of residents. The police also urged residents to report suspicious activities and incidents of criminality as the command intensifies efforts to maintain law and order across the state.
The arrests come amid concerns over the alleged use of masquerade activities to intimidate members of the public and demand money from them. The incident highlights the need for the police to balance the respect for cultural traditions with the need to maintain law and order.
The police will continue to investigate the matter and take necessary actions to prevent similar incidents in the future. Residents are advised to be vigilant and report any suspicious activities to the authorities.
Key points
- The police arrested two Ekpo masquerade participants for allegedly extorting money and assaulting residents along the Ukana/Abak Highway in Akwa Ibom State.
- The suspects were found with machetes, spears, arrows, and masquerade costumes, and investigations are ongoing to identify other individuals involved in the activities.
- The police command warned that it will not tolerate the use of cultural practices or masquerade activities as an excuse to intimidate, extort, or assault members of the public.
