Soldier kills man over masquerade dance

The cultural insensitivity and excess by some JTF are well illustrated here.

Vanguard

11 September 2011

Soldier kills man over masquerade dance

A 21-year-old man from Oko-Amakom in Oshimili South local government area of Delta State was allegedly shot dead yesterday by an armed soldier following a hot argument that ensued over masquerade dance.

Trouble  reportedly started when some soldiers attached to an oil prospecting company in the area ran into a group of masquerade dancers.

The victim, identified as Osakwe Nwanze, was shot after a group of boys from the town stopped the soldiers being conveyed in the company’s vehicle to enable the community’s masquerade which was on the road to pass first because it is a taboo for visitors to catch a glimpse of it.

An eye witness said that it was in the process that  one of the soldiers slapped  Nwanze and another solider jumped down from the vehicle and allegedly shot him at close range.

Commotion broke out and it took the intervention of community leaders to stop the youths from lynching the soldiers and personnel of the company.

Delta State police command’s spokesman, Mr. Charles Muka, confirmed the incident. “It  is true, we are yet to actually get them (soldiers) but we are in touch with their office (Army headquarters Abuja), Muka  said.