Uyo, Akwa Ibom State – In a decisive move to restore calm and protect citizens, Governor Pastor Umo Eno has announced an immediate and indefinite ban on all forms of masquerade displays across Akwa Ibom State. The pronouncement, described by the governor as non-negotiable, comes amid a disturbing surge in violent crimes perpetrated by individuals who conceal their identities behind traditional masquerade costumes to terrorise innocent residents.
Speaking on Saturday at a public function in Uyo, the state capital, Governor Eno expressed deep concern over the misuse of what was once regarded as a cherished cultural practice. He lamented that criminals have hijacked the age-old traditions, turning masquerades – historically symbols of entertainment, spiritual reverence and communal celebration in many parts of southern Nigeria – into instruments of fear, robbery, and physical assault.
“By the powers vested in me as the Governor of Akwa Ibom State and Chief Security Officer of this state, I am hereby issuing an indefinite ban on masquerade displays of any kind throughout the 31 local government areas,” Governor Eno declared emphatically. “This is not a suggestion; it is an executive order. Anyone caught parading as a masquerade from today onwards will be arrested on sight, detained, and prosecuted according to the full extent of the law.”
The governor did not mince words as he addressed the gathering, which included traditional rulers, community leaders, youth representatives, and senior government officials. He revealed that security briefings in recent weeks had repeatedly highlighted incidents where hoodlums, draped in elaborate masquerade regalia, had invaded neighbourhoods, attacked residents, robbed, and in some cases inflicted grievous bodily harm on defenceless citizens.
“I have listened to reports from security agencies, traditional institutions, and ordinary citizens who are now living in fear because of these so-called masquerades,” he said. “They block roads, harass motorists, extort money, and, in extreme cases, stab or shoot people who refuse to comply with their illegal demands. This is no longer culture; this is criminality wearing the mask of tradition.”
Governor Eno specifically directed the Commissioner of Police, CP Baba Mohammed Azare, the Director of the Department of State Services (DSS), the Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), and all divisional police officers across the state to treat the ban as an operational priority. “I am giving a direct order: arrest them, investigate them, charge them to court. There will be no sacred cows. No community, no village, no local government is exempted,” he stressed.
He further appealed to parents, community leaders, and traditional institutions to prevail on their youths to desist from such acts, warning that the government would no longer tolerate the excuse that certain masquerades are “spirits” that cannot be arrested. “If it is a spirit, let the spirit go to the shrine and stay there. Once it comes out to the road to terrorise human beings, it becomes a criminal suspect, and we will treat it as such,” the governor quipped, drawing applause from the audience.
The decision has been welcomed by many residents who have endured months of anxiety, especially in local government areas such as Uyo, Ikot Ekpene, Eket, Oron, and Etinan, where complaints about “criminal masquerades” have been most pronounced. Eyewitness accounts shared on social media and local radio stations in recent weeks describe scenarios where groups of masked individuals wielding machetes, sticks, and in some cases firearms, storm streets demanding money from motorists and shop owners under threat of violence.
The Akwa Ibom State Police Command had already sounded the alarm several weeks ago. In a press statement, Commissioner of Police Baba Azare disclosed that the command had launched “Operation Flush Out Criminal Masquerades,” leading to the arrest of dozens of suspects in different parts of the state. Some of the recovered items, according to the CP, included locally made guns, machetes, charms, and large sums of cash believed to have been extorted from victims.
“Masquerading has become a convenient cover for armed robbery, cultism, and other serious crimes,” CP Azare stated during a parade of suspects in Uyo. “We will not fold our arms and watch criminals hide under culture to destroy the peace we have worked so hard to maintain in Akwa Ibom.”
While the governor acknowledged the cultural significance of masquerades in certain communities – particularly among the famous Ekpo, Ekpe, and Obon societies in Annang, Oron, and Ibibio land – he insisted that public safety supersedes every other consideration. “Culture is beautiful when it unites us and brings joy,” he said. “But the moment it becomes a tool for oppression and bloodshed, the state has a responsibility to step in.”
Traditional rulers present at the event pledged their support for the ban. The Paramount Ruler of Uyo Local Government Area, Edidem Sylvanus Okon, described the governor’s action as “timely and courageous,” adding that genuine cultural troupes had long distanced themselves from the violent fringe elements tarnishing the image of masquerades.
Civil society groups and women organisations also hailed the decision. The President of Akwa Ibom State Women Vanguard, Mrs. Aniedi Jonah, said women and children had borne the brunt of the attacks more than any other group. “We can no longer go to the market or send our children on errands without looking over our shoulders,” she said. “This ban is an answered prayer.”
As the news spread across the state on Saturday evening, many communities reportedly began voluntary compliance, with some youth groups publicly disassociating themselves from masquerade activities for the foreseeable future. Security checkpoints have since been strengthened on major roads, and police patrol teams have been placed on red alert.
Governor Eno concluded his announcement with a passionate appeal for peace: “Akwa Ibom is known nationwide as one of the most peaceful states in Nigeria. Let us not allow a few bad eggs to destroy that reputation. Let people have peace. Let traders do their business in peace. Let students go to school in peace. Let us all work together to keep Akwa Ibom great, peaceful, and safe for everyone.”
With the indefinite ban now in force, residents and observers alike are watching to see how effectively the security agencies will implement the governor’s directive and whether the measure will finally put an end to the menace of “criminal masquerades” that has plagued the state in recent times.
