The Lagos State Police Command has announced restrictions on the current Egungun festival, limiting all connected activities to specified outing points and celebration locations.
The decree, according to the police, strives to protect lives and property while preserving the rights of all religious and cultural groups in the state.
CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, the state Police Command’s spokesperson, issued a statement on Sunday.
“The Lagos State Police Command hereby announces 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 and protection of lives and properties and also protects and makes sure that the rights of the adherents and followers of other religious faiths and groups are not infringed upon or molested during the current Egungun Masquerade festivals,” the statement read.
The command mentioned that the decision came in response to recent reports of disturbances, property damage, and clashes between rival Egungun groups in various parts of the state.
“To guarantee public safety and prevent further clashes between rival Egungun groups as currently being witnessed, and prevent damage to private and public properties as being reported in the last few days in some parts of Lagos State, Egungun masquerades, practitioners, and supporters are to strictly abide by these restrictions.
“They are also required to inform the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, and apply for police security ahead of the coming out of the Egungun masquerade and followers,” the statement added.
The police also issued a stern warning, emphasising that legal actions will be taken against any individual or group found breaching the directive or disrupting public order.
“The Command will not hesitate to apply the full weight of the law on any Egungun masquerade or their adherents and followers found in the disturbance of law and order, or in violation of fundamental human rights and dignity of human persons of the people of other religions, or whose conduct is likely to cause a breach of the peace anywhere in Lagos State.”
![Rev. Fr. Anthony Odiong, a US-based Nigerian Louisiana Catholic priest, was arrested in Florida on Tuesday for possessing child pornography, according to law authorities. The suspect is reportedly accused of many other cases of sexual assault. The Waco, Texas, Police Department announced in a Facebook post on Tuesday that officers detained Father Anthony Odiong in Ave Maria, Florida, with assistance from the United States Marshals Service. Waco police announced in March that they had received "credible information" about a sexual assault allegedly committed by Odiong in Texas in 2012. “During the subsequent investigation, a case of possession of child pornography was uncovered,” the police said. The priest was apprehended in Florida by the Caribbean Regional Fugitive Task Force. The Waco Police Department said that he will be extradited to Texas. Odiong had previously served in the Archdiocese of New Orleans before being removed as priest in December of last year due to controversy over homilies in which he claimed, among other things, that the Catholic Church was being taken over by "the gays." At the time, the priest was also accused of abusive behaviour; a Louisiana lady claimed in U.S. bankruptcy court that Odiong had committed both financial and sexual abuse against her. Prior to joining the New Orleans Archdiocese, Odiong served in at least two Texas parishes. On Tuesday, Waco police stated that during their sexual assault investigation, "the presence of other survivors was revealed." “Multiple women have come forward to tell similar experiences as the sexual assault survivor who reported the initial allegation,” the police department said. “Survivors’ experiences ranged from sexual assault and indecent assault, more commonly recognised as groping, and financial abuse, with some survivors experiencing every element of Anthony Odiong’s manipulation.” The police said they “believe there may be more survivors, and we wish to speak with anyone who [has] had similar encounters” with the priest. The Archdiocese of New Orleans issued a brief news release on Tuesday noting Odiong's arrest in Florida. The archdiocese “encourages anyone with any information to contact law enforcement,” the release said.](https://chronicle.ng/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/ezgif-6-4730550ede-450x300.jpg "Odiong: US-based Nigerian Catholic priest convicted over sexual assault")
