The Akwa Ibom State Police Command has arrested two Ekpo masqueraders for allegedly terrorising members of the public, extorting money from passers-by and assaulting innocent persons in parts of Ikot Ekpene area of the state.
The arrests were made on October 26 around 6:00 p.m. along the Ukana/Abak Highway during an operational show of force.
The ‘ancestors from heaven’, identified as Ine Isong, aged 29 years and Emmanuel Ekpenyong, aged 20 years, were found carrying out the devilish act while wearing masquerade costumes and attire as well as brandishing machetes, spears and arrows.
Preliminary investigation by the police indicated that the masqueraders and other persons allegedly involved in the activities had been terrorising residents and extorting money from members of the public while some innocent persons, particularly women, were assaulted in the process.
They were said to have given more useful information to the police operatives while investigations are ongoing to establish the full circumstances of the incident and identify any other persons connected to the criminal act.
They have also been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for further investigation and they are expected to be charged to court at the conclusion of the investigation.
