The traditional ruler of Awka, Obi Gibson Nwosu, and the Anambra State Police Command yesterday met to work out modalities to ensure a peaceful annual festival of the town known as ‘Imo Awka Festival” which is billed to take off today.

At the meeting which was held at the monarch’s palace in Awka, the police and the traditional ruler warned that anybody who foments trouble during the masquerade festival would be dealt with according to law.

In the past, the annual festival often witnessed violence ranging from bottle stabs to road accidents due to reckless driving, usually perpetrated by the youths who used their masquerades to harass residents of the town as well as strangers.

Today’s ceremony is the high point of the festival which began in some of the villages in Awka a week ago.

Addressing reporters in his palace, Obi Nwosu said the community would not tolerate a situation whereby youths would harass, intimidate, block motorists and extort money from innocent citizens in the name of masquerade festival.

He said that because the festival had caused a lot of problem in the past, the state governor, Chief Willie Obiano, spoke with him on the best way to ensure a hitch-free festival this year and in subsequent years.

The traditional ruler said: “I am talking as the custodian of culture and tradition in this kingdom and I do not want masquerades to cause havoc in the state.”

He described the over 100 years old festival as an enduring tradition and warned against using the occasion to flog and intimidate non-indigenes as was reported in the past.

Obi Nwosu further announced that masquerades have been barred from performing on the major highways in Awka, including the popular Zik Avenue and the Enugu – Onitsha Expressway, except on the final day of the event.

Also briefing reporters, the State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Usman Gwary, said the state police command would not hesitate to arrest anybody who violates the law of the land during the event.

Gwary stressed that the police will deal ruthlessly with anybody who foments trouble during the festival, adding that adequate security has been provided to ensure that nobody would be molested during the event.