The DPO who was injured said ” We only went to Aku to ensure there was peace and order as Odo masquerade and her worshippers visit different villages today. We passed through Obie village unhindered only for Nua people to come out and start attacking us.
“I was injured and our vehicles were damaged. Our duty is to ensure that there is peace in all communities but the enemies of Police came out to attack us,” he explained.
Reacting to the incident, the Vice Chairman of Igbo-Etiti LGA, Hon. Jude Amunabor, condemned the attack and promised that both State and Local government would get to the root of the matter.
He assured his people that the government would punish anyone who took laws into his hands.
It was gathered that two factional masquerade groups have been laying claims as to the authentic group, whose date should be generally accepted as the only day when the Odo Masquerade should return to the spirit world after the annual festival.
While a group at Nua village Aku had claimed to have paraded and sent the Odo Ugwuishihe Masquerade to the spirit world on August 7, those of Aku had ignored them, insisting that it was on August 31 that the masquerade should have its final journey.
It was further gathered that no fewer than a hundred locals were hospitalized following the incident.
