The Lagos State Police Command has suspended the Egungun festival scheduled to hold in the Oregun area on Friday and Saturday, citing threats to public order and safety.
The decision followed the arrest of several individuals accused of circulating posters and social media messages that warned residents to stay indoors during the festival. The police said the messages caused fear and attempted to restrict the fundamental rights of residents.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the Command’s spokesperson, SP Abimbola Adebisi, confirmed that the suspects—who claimed to be acting under the name “Oje Parapo of Oregun”—were apprehended after distributing handbills capable of disturbing the peace.
According to the statement, the actions of the suspects were “capable of inciting fear and disturbing public order.”
Adebisi added, “The Commissioner of Police, Lagos State, CP Olohundare Jimoh, has therefore ordered an immediate suspension of the festival scheduled for November 27 and 28, 2025. He warned that the command would not tolerate any activity capable of breaching public peace, threatening safety, or disrupting law and order in the state.”
The police also referenced a similar incident on November 23, 2025, when 12 suspects were arrested in Mafoluku, Oshodi, for distributing provocative materials intended to incite unrest.
The statement read, “All suspects remain under investigation and will be charged upon conclusion of inquiries.”
Reaffirming the suspension, CP Jimoh instructed the Oje Parapo group to halt all preparations for the event, noting that the police could not guarantee security for the festival.
He condemned the panic the situation had created among residents, stressing that anyone attempting to violate public peace would face stiff consequences.
The command urged residents across Lagos to continue their daily activities without fear, assuring them of ongoing efforts to ensure the safety of lives and property.
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