The Anambra Commissioner for Culture, Entertainment, and Tourism, Don Onyenji, has urged traditional rulers and community leaders to ensure the orderly display of masquerades during their festivals.
Speaking in an interview in Awka on Monday, the commissioner stated the importance of this measure due to reported cases of masquerades assaulting residents and 6damage to property, sometimes resulting in fatalities.
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Mr Onyenji said that the government would not tolerate any masquerade activities that harm residents, affirming the administration’s zero-tolerance stance towards unruly behavior, including that exhibited by masquerades.
“We are warning communities to hold their town hall meetings before the commencement of cultural activities.
“We cannot continue to record avoidable deaths, abuse of human rights, and destruction of properties by masquerades in the name of cultural display.
“Recall that in 2022, the governor warmed and urged all forms of masquerades on display in the state to conduct their activities in an orderly manner to avoid any ugly incident,” he said.
Mr Onyenji said Governor Charles Soludo’s administration was willing to sustain and promote the cultural heritage of various communities, but not to the detriment of people’s rights and safety.
