Zangbeto

[1] They are highly revered and act as an unofficial police force patrolling the streets, especially in the night, watching over people and their properties, and tracking down criminals and presenting them to the community to punish.

Originally created to scare the enemy away, Zangbeto will wander the streets to detect thieves and witches, and to protect law and order.

[2] Relating its fundamental cultural role in local vigilantism and community policing in Ogu societies, Zangbeto is a term in Gun language which means "Men of the night" or "Night-watchmen".

[3] The Zangbeto takes on a covering made from an intricate mass of tiny strands of hay, raffia, or other threadlike materials, which are sometimes dyed in very colourful hues.

[5] In a trance, the Zangbeto are said to evoke a power that inhabited the earth long before the appearance of man and provide a source of wisdom and continuity for the Ogu people.