A foremost socio-cultural organization in Ekid nation and indeed Akwa Ibom State, the Afigh Iwaad has abandoned three of her masquerades in Police custody at the State Police headquarters, Ikot Akpan Abia. In a chat with this reporter today at the State Police headquarters, Ikot Akpan Abia, the persons behind the mask, Samuel Ime, Kingsley Samuel and Ediomo Friday who hail from Atabong and Edeobuk villages in Eket Local Government Area respectively, said that they were on their way to the Eket Sports stadium on invitation by the Afigh Iwaad Ekid for their annual Ekid Day celebration, when they were arrested at Ukwa Junction adjacent the Eket Divisional Police headquarters. According to them, since their arrest, nobody from Afigh Iwaad Ekid has come to their rescue.
On his part, the Akwa Ibom State Commissioner of Police, CP Baba Mohammed Azare maintained that the State police command had issued a strong warning that any cultural organization or community that wishes to stage any event that would feature any masquerade display, should write a letter to duly inform the Police, to enable the Police to make adequate security arrangements for the citizens, but sadly, such letter never came from Afigh Iwaad Ekid. According to CP Azare:
“Some other communities have applied, and we have given them permission to do it; and at the end of the day, we provide security for them, and they do their cultural activities without hindrance. But if you say you would not follow the law, then the law will catch up with you.”
Responding to the situation, the Public Relations Officer of the Afigh Iwaad Ekid, Iwaad Edet Edet, said that prior to the Ekid Day celebration, he had gone round to sensitize the people, and even prospective masquerades, on their conducts during the Ekid day celebration, but sadly, some masquerades still violated the instructions. He expressed hope that the President of Afigh Iwaad Ekid, Captain Willie Mbong and by extension the Chairman Eket Local Government Council, Rt Hon Akaninyene Tommy would look into the matter and find a way to rescue the boys from the police net.
Efforts to speak with the International President of Afigh Iwaad Ekid, Captain Willie Mbong proved abortive, as he ignored several calls put across to him.
© Nseobong Umoidem
