Police ban Kogi masquerade festivals during poll rerun

The Kogi State Police Command has banned the indigenes of Ihima and its traditional rulers from holding the annual Echane masquerades festival on April 25 due to the rerun elections holding in some parts of the state.
The festival, which is a cultural event of the Ihima community in Okehi Local Government Area of the state, is scheduled to hold from April 25 to 27.
The Kogi State Commissioner of Police, Adeyemi Ogunjemilusi, in a statement by the Public Relations Officer of the command, Sola Collins, on Friday, also warned the clan heads, sub-clan heads, and priests of the Ajaokuta Local Government Area to desist from another traditional festival, which was billed to hold on April 26.
Ogunjemilusi said, “The state Police command wishes to reiterate that the ban on masquerades’ outing, as earlier agreed by the traditional rulers in the state and the state government, in the face of emanating crimes, will be upheld, especially during the election, until otherwise stated by the state government and when the coast proves conducive enough for it not to be used for the act of criminality.
“The CP equally notified the people of Ajaokuta Local Government Area, who fixed their traditional festival on April 26, to put it off in the overall interest of peace.
“Violation of this order by clans, sub-clan, priests or any persons shall attract the full wrath of the law.”