Catholic Priest Decries Masquerades’ Attacks On Clerics

A Catholic priest of Saint Columba Catholic Church Abakaliki, Ebonyi State capital, Rev Fr. Peter Agbo, has expressed sadness over the constant attacks of clerics, aged women and girls by youths of the Ngbo Community who parade with a masquerade in the community.

Rev Fr. Agbo disclosed this during the first anniversary of the State House of Assembly at the Assembly Chambers, Nkaliki Road, Abakaliki.

Agbo noted that the youths in their numbers block the community road and molest innocent passersby, adding that a Catholic cleric posted to the community was recently beaten up alongside his cook and described the incident as most unfortunate, barbaric and archaic.

He called on the state government and the State House of Assembly to come up with legislation banning the indiscriminate attacks on innocent citizens of the state that parade the communities with masquerades.

It is unfortunate and barbaric that youths parading with masquerades embark on molestation, harassment and intimidation of innocent citizens, including clerics, women and girls. They block the road, and in the process of scampering for safety, many sustained various degrees of injuries.

“I call on the governor, Francis Nwifuru, and the State House of Assembly to end this barbaric act.”In his address at the mock plenary to mark the House’s first anniversary, the Ebonyi State House of Assembly speaker, Hon Moses Odanwu said that a motion was brought before the House to ban the activities of masquerades and restive youths in the Ngbo Community in the Ohaukwu local government area of the state.

He noted that the motion aimed to stop the barbaric act of masquerades at the Okwo-Ngbo market and commended members of the House for giving it an accelerated hearing.

Meanwhile, members of the state House of Assembly have also expressed concern over the country’s economic hardship and youth unemployment and called on the federal and state governments to urgently tackle the situation.