Lagos State Police Restrict Egungun Masquerade Festival To Designated Venues

The Lagos State Police Command on Sunday announced that all activities of the annual Egungun Masquerade Festival are to be confined to designated outing points and celebration venues only.

The command said the move is aimed at curbing rising clashes between rival masquerade groups and preventing incidents of violence and property damage across the state.

In a statement by the Public Relations Officer, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, the police stressed that:
“The Lagos State Police Command hereby announce the restriction of all Egungun masquerade festival activities to designated masquerade outing points and venues of celebrations only. This directive prohibits practitioners from engaging in public processions or street marching to ensure safety, protection of lives and properties, and to safeguard the rights of adherents and followers of other religious faiths and groups during the current Egungun Masquerade festivals.”

Hundeyin noted that the measure is necessary to maintain peace, especially as tensions among rival Egungun groups have intensified in recent days. He warned that any individual or group found disturbing law and order or violating fundamental human rights would face the full force of the law.