The Akwa Ibom State Police Command has arrested the leader of an Ekpo masquerade group and his accomplice for allegedly mounting an armed blockade on a public highway, attacking commuters, and extorting money from passersby.
The suspects, identified as Uwem Umanah, 45, and David Michael, 34, were apprehended in separate operations after a distress call alerted police to the group’s unlawful activities.
Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Timfon John, confirmed the arrests in a statement on Friday, saying operatives acted swiftly following reports that a masquerade group had taken over a public road, armed with spears, machetes, and sticks.
“The masquerade group attacked commuters and extorted money from members of the public, including National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members,” DSP John said.
“Preliminary investigations revealed that Umanah authorized his followers to stage the illegal display in defiance of an existing state ban on masquerade activities.”
The police spokesperson said Umanah, identified as the mastermind of the unlawful assembly, was arrested at the scene, while Michael was later apprehended at Ukana Onuk Village in Ikot Ekpene Local Government Area as he allegedly prepared to invade another community in full masquerade regalia.
Both suspects have been charged to court following the conclusion of police investigations.
The arrests come amid a renewed enforcement of the Akwa Ibom State Masquerades (Control) Law, Cap. 94, Laws of Akwa Ibom State, 2022, which regulates masquerade activities and prohibits any act of violence, extortion, or disturbance of public peace under the guise of cultural display.
The Commissioner of Police, CP Baba Mohammad Azare, reaffirmed the Command’s commitment to maintaining law and order, warning that the police would not tolerate any form of lawlessness or the use of cultural practices as a front for criminal acts.
“The ban on masquerade parades remains in force,” the CP stated. “It became necessary following repeated cases of violence, assault, and even murder linked to certain Ekpo groups.”
He urged residents to remain law-abiding and to report suspicious activities to the police to ensure the continued safety and peace of all communities in the state.
The Ekpo masquerade tradition, a centuries-old cultural practice and norm across Akwa Ibom communities, is typically performed during festive seasons as an ancestral rite.
However, authorities say its abuse by violent elements has necessitated tighter regulation.
