Comr. Clinton Ogbonna, the President, Nsukka Youth General Assembly (NYGA) has condemned recent attacks of masquerades in Nsukka popularly known as Oriokpa on road users and passersby.
Ogbonna said this to our correspondent in Nsukka on Wednesday while reacting to the last week remand of three Oriokpa masquerades in
Nigerian Correctional, Nsukka Custodial Centre till July 31 by an Nsukka Magestrate Court.
He said NYGA is happy about the development as the assembly would not allow few youths to continue tarnish the image of youths in Enugu North Senatorial District in the name of masquerades.
“You know NYGA is an organisation that has its membership from the six local government areas that made up the senatorial district and one of our objectives is to ensure youths in the area conduct themselves in orderly manner at all time.
“As youth president in the area, I have always advised youths to be of good conduct and avoid any thing that will bring shame and bad image to Nsukka people.
“I am not against any youth participating in masquerades but such person should not use it to harass, intimidate or forcefully exploit money from innocent road users and passersby.
“NYGA will not allow any youth to hide on the cover of masquerades to tarnish the image of people from the district,”he said.
The NYGA president disclosed that he was the one that forwarded social media video of the affected masquerades to Nsukka Local Government Chairman, Chief Chinedu Asogwa who immediately took action that led to arrest of the three masquerades involved in that brutal act.
” I am the one that forwarded the viral video showing Nsukka masquerades unleashing mayhem on road users to Nsukka LG boss.
” I commend the council chairman who immediately took action that led to the arrest and arraignment of the affected masquerades in Nsukka.
“I am happy the court remanded the three masquerades in Nsukka Correction Centre till July 31 for hearing on the matter.
“As youth president I support everything government will do to sanitise activities of masquerades because Nsukka is an university town where people from different parts of the country and beyond visit University of Nigeria Nsukka on daily basis.
“If after all said and done by government and stakeholders to make masquerades to embrace sanity and respect people’s fundamental human rights failed, government should consider outright ban of activities of masquerades,”Ogbonna added