₦airaland Forum

There was uproar on Monday, at Koko in Warri North Local Government Area of Delta State, when soldiers deployed to keep surveillance in the community clashed with masquerades, arresting four in the process.

Nigerian Tribune gathered that troubled began Sunday afternoon, when a masquerade accosted a soldier, who was in mufti.

The soldier, in anger, was said to have responded with a fight.

It was, however, gathered that the masquerades had notified relevant security agencies before embarking on their ritual mission in the community.

 Fisticuffs allegedly ensued, when youths accompanying the masquerades, having seen the sacrilege meted out on their ancestral rituals, descended on the soldier, leading to a serious showdown.

The soldier, embarrassed, was said to have escaped to their base, mobilised his colleagues and returned to pick up four of the marauding masquerades at different points in the community. 

The arrested masquerades, it was gathered, were forcefully dragged into a waiting Toyota Hilux van to the military base.

Nigerian Tribune further gathered that a female soldier was said to have engaged interrogating the masquerades, who by tradition, should speak to no one until it returns to its shrine.

This sacrilege, it was gathered, infuriated the whole community, who mobilised themselves and stormed the military base, demanded the release of their ancestral representatives. An appeasement process initiated on Sunday night was said to have been disrupted by the soldiers.

The imbroglio continued on Monday, when the soldiers allegedly barricaded the only access road to the town, preventing all forms of movements in the community, which is the headquarters of the local government.

A leader of Koko community, who declined mentioning his name for fear of arrest, said the soldier in mufti only came into the community to look for trouble.

According to him, troubled ensued when the soldier in mufti refused to give way, like any other person in the community, and he met face to face with the masquerade.

He added that what the soldiers did was sacrilegious and the town needed be cleansed.

Another resident said the “police know the culture here and abide by it every year or time these masquerades are brought out for display by the entire Koko community.”

Meanwhile, the Olu of Warri, Atuwatse II was said to have sent emissaries to the embattled community to mediate on the issue.

The Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Koko police station, however, declined to comment on the issue while the state police public relations officer, Celestina  Kalu, did not pick her calls as she was reported to have travelled out of the country.

However, the member representing Warri federal constituency in the House of Representatives, Honourable Dan Reyenieju, has promised to wade into the matter through the commanding officer in charge of the Koko military base. 




http://tribune.com.ng/news/news-headlines/item/20484-soldiers-masquerades-battle-in-warri

I promise 2 wade into dis matter when it gets 2 front page

***In Shao Khan's voice***
Masquerades Vs Soldiers
Round 1! Fight!!!

Nigeria

If the said soldier didn't want to be 'accosted', he should've steered clear of the area or at least put on his uniform in order to be recognised.
If you commit this abomination in my community in the name of being a soldier, you'd be surprised at the calibre of high placed men that'd fight you; they'd make sure you leave the Nigerian Army.
Respect people's tradition.

Ara orun n ba ara aye ja...hmmm

Eleyi gidi gan ooo

All these soldiers wearing mufti to cause commotion, if something goes wrong una go deny say na soldier, if dem beat una, una go mobilize una fellow soldiers.

I pray make dem transfer you to Mubi

This kind of thing happened somewher in Ogun State years back, during the military regime. A local & highly revered king was molested by a handful of soldier boys at some check point, I think he was made to frog jump. Fast forward years later, the barracks now a goat pen of some sort cos the locals made sure the barracks was vacated by the green shirts, you know nah, bubuyaya tinz lol. We learnt stiffs were being removed from the place every other day. When the body count became alarming, they finally legged it from the town....

At this age masquerade still dey disturb pple wey dey waka their own nd som dude re still in support.
Even if dey announced it, ve they not heard of d word "stranger".

When I bcome presido, I did ban all doz demi godzz...

[size=16pt]Sacrilege!!![/size]
Nonsense

PAGAN9JA come in

Both parties acted foolishly

I thought masquerade na spirit ooooo.
How can spirit be arrested

Trouble dey sleep yanga dey wake am. We dey our own o na una fins us come. this one na wait and take.

the soldiers should be stripped of their uniform and used as human sacrifice. NONSENSE!

Ilovenigeria:
I thought masquerade na spirit ooooo.
How can spirit be arrested

It is a physical embodiment of the spirit. not the spirit itself.

just lyk jesus was d physical embodiment of a fatherless jew.

menix:
At this age masquerade still dey disturb pple wey dey waka their own nd som dude re still in support.
Even if dey announced it, ve they not heard of d word "stranger".

When I bcome presido, I did ban all doz demi godzz...

u will never become president. u will remain a slave throughout your life.

PAGAN9JA:
u will never become president. u will remain a slave throughout your life.

Lik ur fada?

menix:
Lik ur fada?

i dont remember making tall claims 2 be president.

Brijet:
I promise 2 wade into dis matter when it gets 2 front page

It iss now in fp