Nigeria: Fire Down Igarra Hills - One Town, Many 'Monarchs' - the Masquerade Festival Connection

9 February 2014
interview

Benin-City — Igarra is a sleepy community in Akoko Edo Local Government Council of Edo State, but the peace in the community was punctured, Wednesday, January 15, during an alleged attempt by some youths to celebrate the annual Ekuochi masquerade festival which, according to the Otaru of Igarra, Oba Adeche Saiki, was banned since 1989. Igarra lies at the foot of Igarra hills popularly known as Kukuruku Hills. About five persons received gunshot injuries during the attempt to stop the festival .

Apart from the controversy over the actual cause of the January 15 crisis, the Oshemdase, Oorenyi of Igarra, High Chief Gabriel Olorunfemi Ojo, who is one of the leaders of the opposing camp, said it was untrue that the youths were celebrating the Ekuochi, saying they only gathered to worship their deity called Erepa before they were attacked by some people. Besides, he insisted that the masquerade festival was not banned and that the Otaru is not the paramount ruler of Igarra people.

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