Connect with us

News

VIDEO: Outrage, Condemnations As Masquerades Beat Female Nurse To Pulp In Nsukka

Published

on

Wild condemnation is trailing the beating to pulp of a nurse by a group of masquerades in Nsukka Local Government Area of Enugu State on Sunday.

According to DAILY POST reports, the action has attracted outrage, with individuals and groups demanding justice for the nurse who was racing to her duty call.

The victim has been identified as Miss Blessing Ogbonna, a staff of a private hospital in Nsukka.

In a video trending online, the nurse, properly kitted, was flogged until she fell down from a motorbike.

As she managed to get up and run, the hordes of masquerades continued beating her till she fell into a deep drainage.

Miss Blessing told an online TV owned by Mr Chinedu Anichi that a tipper blocked her view while she was riding to the hospital, adding that before she could see the masquerades, it was too late to run.

While calling for justice for her and other victims, she disclosed that she had remained traumatised as they showed her no mercy.

The development has drawn the ire of many Nigerians, who are calling for the outright ban of the ‘Oriokpa Nsukka masquerade’, which they said was now notorious for committing all manners of crime.

Apart from always beating people to a pulp for not parting with money, they have also been accused of bearing arms.

Reacting to the sad incident, a rights group, Heroine Women Foundation said the action of the masqueraded and their handlers must be probed and proper sanctions meted out on them.

The Executive Director of the Foundation, Amb. Onyi Mama, said this act against the female nurse shouldn’t be tolerated by the relevant authorities.

“Watching the video of the attack on this helpless lady is so painful and I wonder what has happened to our humanity,” Amb. Mama said.

“What is even more sad is that this is a nurse in the business of saving lives and was on her way to work when these conscienceless individuals descended on her and were having fun in her pain.

“How do you even begin to define this as a cultural display? I call on the relevant authorities to round up anyone involved in this act to serve as a deterrent to others,” she demanded.

Similarly, a pressure group in the Nsukka zone, Otobo Nsukka Cultural Zone Community Developmental Initiative, has rallied authorities to ensure justice for the nurse.

In a statement signed by Prince Chibeze Onah, Convener and Agu Chineme, Head of Administration, the group announced that it has traced the nurse to where she is receiving treatment and that justice was underway.

“We are happy to inform the general public that the leadership of Otobo Nsukka Cultural Zone Community Developmental Initiative NGO, led by Prince Chibeze Onah (Tallest), Convener, and Agu Chineme Mc O one, Head of Administration, today, Tuesday, April 30th, 2024, took swift action to locate the nurse in question.

“We met her at a hospital in Nsukka, where she is receiving medical treatment. After interviewing her, we discovered that she was mercilessly beaten by the Oriokpa masquerades at Echara Nsukka while on her way to answer an emergency call from a patient.

“We thank God that she is responding to treatment as of the time we met her.

“Otobo Nsukka Cultural Zone Community Developmental Initiative NGO is calling on the Igwe, PG, and youth leaders of Echara Nsukka to ensure that those behind the incident are brought to justice, so that such an incident does not repeat itself. Culture should be revered, not used as a cover for hooliganism.

“It was possible that through the leadership of Otobo Nsukka Cultural Zone Community Developmental Initiative, Blessing Ogbonna, was opportune to speak with the government of Enugu State officially.

“We look forward that the office of the Ministry of Gender and Children Affairs, in conjunction with the Office of the First Lady of Enugu State will do the needful, for Blessing Ogbonna to get justice.”

Also speaking on the development, a renowned university don, Professor Damina Opata described the development as disturbing.

Opata, a professor of English and literary studies said “The current Oriokpa phenomenon is a very disturbing trend. Oriokpa has not always been like that. It has become a threat to peace and security. But it can still be restored, to a very large extent, to what it used to be.

“Oriokpa is part of the Omaba masking system. Some people call it ugwa. In the olden days, Oriokpa did not beat strangers, it did not beat any person carrying a child; it did not beat any person who on being pursued ran into a yam farm; when pursuing a young person and the person bent down, touching the soil as a mark of surrender, the Oriokpa would use the cain it is wielding to touch the person at the back, and let go. The Oriokpa did not beat married women.

“Beyond these, the Oriokpa was like a cultural and moral guard. If there was a man who habitually wasted himself on a widow, a group of Oriokpa would compose a satirical song about the man and his exploits and sing it around the community at night. If there was a young lady or girl who was habituated to going from one man’s bed to another, the same type of song would apply to her.

“If there were young boys who were becoming hooligans, the same musical pattern would apply to them. They even composed songs about known thieves in the community. Through this method, they helped to enforce some sense of morality in the community.

“In the olden days too, the Oriokpa did not go about begging for money. I suspect that begging for money by Oriokpa is the influence of Uraga/ Manwu Christmas. Recall how children those days, after Xmas mass, would move from house to house and to different villages, begging for money. They even shunned food and drinks and preferred monetary gifts.

“The Oriokpa too did not wield any form of weapons. Maybe, this is an influence of criminal modernity.

“Another reason for the current dangerous behaviour of Oriokpa is the lack of continuity in mentoring new entrants into the Omaba institution. Christianity demonised the institution. Some Christian parents even prevented their children from committing the sin of watching Omaba performances. Many Omaba houses in different village arenas fell into disuse, and were totally abandoned.

“Luckily, there is a great momentum and resurgence of the Omaba institution across a variety of Omaba masking communities. Some communities have evolved regulations that control the outing and performance of Oriokpa, and these appear to be working.

“The real danger is that some reckless youths even from outside Nsukka Omaba culture areas go into the bush, don Oriokpa outfit, and begin to waylay people on the road, forcefully extorting money from innocent citizens, and even beating people who refuse to give them money. One way out of this is for village vigilantes and the police to arrest Oriokpa who block main roads, begging for money. The Igwes should also play a part in controlling the excesses of the modern Oriokpa.”

Meanwhile, as of the time of filing this report, no word has come from the traditional ruler of the Nsukka community where the incident took place.

 

Advertisement

News

Oyo 2027: Adelabu Quits As Power Minister To Focus On Guber Race

Published

on

By

The Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu has formally resigned from his position in the Federal Government to pursue his governorship ambition in Oyo State.

In a resignation letter dated April 22, 2026, and addressed to the President, Adelabu stated that his resignation will take effect on April 30, 2026, to enable him to focus on his governorship ambition in Oyo State.

The letter, routed through the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, stated that he was stepping down with “a deep sense of honour and profound gratitude.”

He wrote, “I write with a deep sense of honour and profound gratitude to formally tender my resignation as the Honourable Minister of Power of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. This resignation is to take effect on 30th April 2026, in order to allow sufficient time for a smooth and orderly handover of responsibilities.”

Adelabu thanked the President for the opportunity to serve, describing his appointment as a privilege.

He said, “Your Excellency, I remain sincerely grateful for the privilege and confidence you reposed in me by appointing me to serve our great nation in this capacity.

“It has been a rare honour to contribute to national development under your leadership and to play a role in advancing reforms in the power sector—one of the most critical foundations of Nigeria’s industrial growth and economic transformation.”

The former minister said his resignation was to enable him focus fully on his governorship ambition in Oyo State, citing provisions of the amended electoral law.

He added, “My decision to step down is informed by my intention to focus fully on my gubernatorial ambition in Oyo State. This aspiration, which dates back to 2016 during my service as Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, ultimately led to my voluntary resignation from the Central Bank in 2018 in order to pursue the same goal.”

“In line with the provisions of the Amended Electoral Act 2026, which preclude political office holders from contesting elections, I consider it both appropriate and necessary to resign at this time.”

Adelabu’s exit marks a major political development ahead of the next electoral cycle, particularly in Oyo State, where he is expected to contest the governorship election.

Continue Reading

News

Wale Edun, Musa Dangiwa Resigned Voluntarily, Not Sacked – Presidency

Published

on

By

The Presidency has clarified that Wale Edun (former Finance Minister) and Ahmed Musa Dangiwa (former Housing Minister) voluntarily resigned from their positions and were not sacked by President Tinubu.

In a statement released this evening April 22, presidential media aide, Bayo Onanuga, said that contrary to public opinions, Wale Edun resigned on health grounds while Dangiwa also tendered his resignation and thanked the President for the opportunity given him to serve in the Federal Executive Council.

Onanuga stated that Edun, who clocked 70 on Monday and has battled recent ill health, fittingly submitted his resignation letter on his birthday, thanking the President for the opportunity to serve Nigeria.

“It has been a pleasure and privilege to serve your administration and the Renewed Hope Agenda, Under your leadership, Nigeria has emerged stronger, more resilient and more internationally respected. I wish you and the administration every success in the future” he wrote

Onanuga stated that on Tuesday, before the Office of the Secretary of the Government of the Federation announced his departure from the Cabinet, Edun paid a valedictory visit to the President at the Villa and held an hour-long discussion with the president and then left to focus on his private businesses.

The presidential aide stated that President Tinubu has expressed deep appreciation to Edun and Dangiwa for their dedicated service and significant contributions to the administration’s economic reform programme and wished them continued success in their future endeavours.

‘’In the same vein, the President has urged the new Minister of Finance, Taiwo Oyedele, to consolidate ongoing reforms and advance the administration’s fiscal and economic objectives with renewed focus, discipline, and innovation.

President Tinubu will shortly send the ministerial nominee for housing, Muttaqha Rabe Darma, also from Katsina, like Dangiwa, to the Senate for confirmation” the statement concluded

Continue Reading

News

Unity Bank, Experts Advocate Green Investment, Climate Innovation To Drive Economic Resilience

Published

on

By

Nigeria’s retail lender, Unity Bank Plc, alongside leading climate innovation experts, has called for increased investment in the green economy and the adoption of frontier technologies as critical pathways to driving economic resilience and reducing the impact of climate change on vulnerable populations across Africa.

The call was made during a thought-provoking webinar hosted by the Bank to commemorate this year’s Earth Day, themed “The True Cost of Climate Change and Who Pays?”. Climate experts and stakeholders convened to examine the human, economic, and institutional costs of climate change, while spotlighting practical solutions to address its growing impact.

In his opening remarks, Unity Bank’s Head of Strategy and Innovation, Ibukun Coker, emphasised the urgency of addressing climate risks from both a societal and business perspective.

He said: “Climate change is no longer a distant or abstract challenge. It is an existential threat with direct consequences for individuals, businesses, and economies. At Unity Bank, we recognise the role institutions must play in incorporating sustainability in project financing, supporting businesses and promoting solutions that build resilience in communities where we operate.”

The webinar featured Chinwe Udo-Davis, Founder and CEO of Instollar, and Oluwatosin Ajide, Programme Manager at the Nigeria Climate Innovation Centre, both of whom provided insights into the drivers of climate change and the pathways to mitigation and adaptation.

Speaking during the session, Udo-Davis highlighted the disproportionate burden which climate change places on underserved communities and the need for inclusive solutions.

“The true cost of climate change is not evenly distributed. Communities with the least resources are often the most affected, whether through energy poverty, environmental degradation, or limited access to sustainable alternatives. Addressing this imbalance requires intentional investment in clean energy solutions that are both accessible and scalable.”

Ajide underscored the importance of coordinated, system-wide approaches in tackling climate challenges, particularly through innovation and policy alignment.

“Climate change is fundamentally a structural problem, and its solution requires a paradigm shift: from innovation and policy to financing and implementation. Stakeholders must work collaboratively to drive solutions that are sustainable and inclusive.”

The session also explored emerging opportunities in climate technology, renewable energy, and ecosystem financing, reinforcing the role of innovation and cross-sector collaboration in building long-term resilience.

By hosting the webinar, Unity Bank continues to demonstrate its commitment to advancing sustainability-focused dialogue and supporting initiatives that promote responsible growth and environmental stewardship.

The initiative underscores the Bank’s broader strategic focus on environmental sustainability as well as its commitment to financial inclusion.

Continue Reading

Trending