It was further gathered that no fewer than a hundred locals were hospitalized following the incident.
A young man identified as ‘Cross,’ from Amankpo Umu-Ezike, Aku, Igbo-Etiti Local Government Area of Enugu State has been feared dead when masquerade worshippers clashed at Nua community, also in Aku community.
Igbere TV gathered that the Divisional Police Officer of Igbo-Etiti Police Division, Chinedu Okike, and other residents of Aku sustained various degrees of gunshot injuries during the fracas.
The spokesperson for the Enugu State Police Command, Daniel Ndukwe, who confirmed the incident said that one male suspect has been arrested in connection with the clash, adding that normalcy has been restored in the community.
According to an eyewitness who pleaded for anonymity, the clash occurred at Elu-Orie Nua Aku around 4 p.m. on Monday. In his words ” The fight started when Odo masquerade worshippers in their numbers accompanied one Odo masquerade called Ugwuishihe to Elu-Orie Nua as tradition demands for final visitation before departing to the spirit world on 31st August 2023.
” As the Odo masquerade with her worshippers got to Elu-Orie Nua, some boys from Nua in their numbers started stoning them from all angles. As the worshippers advanced further, the boys who are from Nua started shooting at them. In the process, the DPO of Ogbede Police Division was shot with other people.
“Most people started running for their lives as the DPO got shot and the men of Nigeria Police Force who were on the ground with the DPO to ensure a peaceful passage of the Odo masquerade in all the villages had to use tear gas to repel the shooters.
“The two police van they came with were damaged by Nua boys when they were throwing stones at the police people,” the source narrated.
The source also said that one Mr. Kenneth who was among those shooting at the worshippers was later apprehended by the police and those shot were taken to various hospitals.
However, when newsmen visited Attah Memorial Hospital where one of the victims was taken to, Cross, was seen lying on a hospital bed with various gunshot injuries including one that damaged his manhood while piercing through his thigh.
