Police reinstates Ban on Masquerades Outings and Celebration

By Yabagi Ahmed
In an effort to stem the tide of some phony issues relating to security during a period like the yuletide which is upon us, the Kogi State Command of the Nigerian Police has reminded the citizens that the ban on masquerades in the State is still in force.
masqurades
Speaking to our correspondent in an exclusive interview at the Force Headquarter in Lokoja, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), Redengha Timpa, said “the ban on masquerades throughout the three senatorial districts of the state is still in force, and all the citizens of the state are expected to respect this warning”.

According to him, all persons or groups should obey the warning as any act of disobedience would attract arrest and prosecution in accordance with the law. He added that his command would not spare anyone caught disregarding the law of the land.

He said “What we have heard is that sometimes when these masquerades come out, they commit a lot of havoc, they are not masquerades that just come out and go back, we are told that they sometimes even kill people and as a law enforcement agency, the police will not sit back and watch people commit such heinous crimes”.

DSP Timpa stated that the Kogi State Commissioner of Police, CP Saidu Madawaki has assured the government and people of the State that he would not allow any such crimes from being committed in Kogi State as long as he remains in charge of the police command in the state.

The Kogi State Police Command’s image maker further enthused that the Commissioner is committed to the service of the state in terms securing the lives and properties of the people. “He wants everyone to sleep with their two eyes closed”, he informed.

Mr. Timpa queried “If the masquerades as claimed in some quarters to be part of the people’s culture, and that there is nothing wrong with it, then why has the state government come out to ban their activities in the first place? There must be something fishy as to the way they operate”.

He said the governor of the state who is the chief security officer supports the police’ ban on the activities of masquerades because there is the possibility of criminals taking advantage to wreak havoc on unsuspecting members of the public, which the police will not allowed.

The Police Public Relations Officer then assured law abiding citizens of the state that the police commissioner, CP Saidu Madawaki is committed to duty and has gone round the state to assure the people of the determination of the police under his command to working round the clock to seethat adequate security is provided them.

He CP Madawaki since assumption of office has introduced what he calls “Visibility Policing” to ensure that the men of the command embark on patrol round the clock throughout the state. The form of policing also ensures that there is adequate monitoring of all the highways, towns and villages within the state to ensure that the state remains peaceful.

Policemen that are in police Command have been warned by the present commissioner of police, CP Madawaki, to respect law abiding citizens and their rights, adding that he has directed that if by any chance any policeman is arrested by the police, if such is confirmed after investigation; such a person should be released immediately without any delay. This way, the public would know that police is their friend.

“For our information to also sink to the grassroots, we have also pleaded with the media to ensure that all the press releases and news coverage granted to them are translated into various local languages for the people’s understanding”, he further told Savidnews.com.

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