Commuter bus kills masquerade in Anambra

Onitsha-The celebration of the New Year turned sour for a family in Nkpor, Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State, as Commuter bus kills masquerade said to belong to the family.

It was gathered that the masquerade, in the early hours of the fateful day, accompanied by about four youths, was crossing the ever-busy Onitsha-Enugu Expressway, close to Tarzan Junction Nkpor, when it was crushed to death by an on-coming bus.

The bus, according to a witness who pleaded anonymity, was among the vehicles that ply the highway daily.

“On that fateful day, the masquerade with its members, was on the process of crossing the expressway when a speeding bus crushed it,” the witness said

“Those who witnessed the incident were scared to render assistance to avoid being accused of offending the spirits and gods of the land; they distanced themselves from the scene until the police team from Ogidi arrived.

“In our town, you dare not come close to a masquerade, if you were not initiated into the masquerade cult, let alone coming to touch the masquerade. That was why the crushed masquerade lied in the pool of blood for minutes before help came.”

Confirming the incident when contacted, Mark Ijarafu (CSP), the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in charge of Ogidi Police Station, said the driver of the ill-fated bus was assisting the police in investigation.

His words: “The driver reported himself to us and we have deposited the corpse at Iyi-Enu hospital mortuary.”

Ijarafu added that the police were investigating the matter, to know who between the driver and the masquerade was at fault.

Credit: Independent