‎Akwa Ibom bans masquerade street displays, orders arrest, prosecution

Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Umo Eno. Photo: Akwa Ibom State Government House

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‎‎Akwa Ibom State Governor, Umo Eno, has signed an Executive Order banning masquerade displays on streets and major highways across the state.

‎The move, according to the governor, follows rising incidents of harassment, extortion and public disturbances linked to masquerade activities in several communities.

‎According to a statement made available to newsmen on Wednesday, Eno, who announced the proscription last week, reaffirmed the ban while signing the order at Government House, Uyo, on Tuesday.

‎He directed the Commissioner of Police and other security agencies to enforce full compliance.

‎”By my office as the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, I am issuing an order that anyone caught will be arrested and prosecuted. They have used it to cause havoc in some local governments.

‎”As the chief security officer of the State, I am directing the commissioner of police and other security agencies to arrest and prosecute masquerades. Let it stop terrorising people, and let people have peace,” Eno stated.

‎The governor stressed that while he respects the state’s cultural heritage, no tradition should cause harm or infringe on the rights of citizens.

‎He said, “All of us are living witnesses to the embarrassment and nuisance that this has caused. If you have driven along the highways, you would have seen how they operate. It could cause accidents, and sometimes it brings cars to an abrupt halt. ‎ ‎”Last two weeks, we had a scene where a young woman was literally stripped naked and flogged by these masquerades. Yes, it is culture, but everyone has a right. No culture should dominate the other or cause harm to others.”

Eno noted that a 2022 law already requires police clearance for such displays, adding that those who wish to celebrate masquerades must restrict the activity to village squares.

‎”So if you want to play masquerade, go to your village square and play it, but not on the streets of Akwa Ibom.

‎”Don’t use that to disrupt public peace and order. We don’t want to have trouble in our hands,” he stated.

‎The governor urged residents to familiarise themselves with the new order and warned against further disruption of public order under the guise of cultural expression.

‎He appealed to the public to support tourism-boosting initiatives that align with his administration’s ARISE Agenda, especially as the state anticipates a surge in visitors during the festive season.

‎”We have visitors coming as we are trying to make our State a tourist destination. Let’s not scare people. Don’t make them feel that chaos is tolerated. It is on the strength of that that we sign this to bring public peace and order,” he stated.

‎Speaking earlier, the Commissioner of Police, Baba Azare, commended the governor for the directive, describing it as timely and necessary.

‎According to him, the order gives security agencies clear authority to curb masquerade-related violence, intimidation and obstruction across the 31 local government areas.

‎He assured that enforcement has already commenced, with instructions issued to area commanders and tactical units to ensure full compliance statewide.

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