At least two people lost their lives while several others sustained injuries following a violent confrontation between soldiers and participants in the ongoing Echane Masquerade Festival in Ogaminana, the headquarters of Adavi Local Government Area of Kogi State.
The incident occurred on Sunday and has since led the Kogi State Government to suspend the festival throughout Ebiraland due to security concerns.
Sources told Vanguard that the unrest began after two soldiers, said to be dressed in mufti, were allegedly attacked by some masqueraders taking part in the traditional procession.
An eyewitness said the soldiers later returned with reinforcements.
“Two soldiers who were not in uniform were beaten by a masquerade. They went back and mobilised their colleagues to the area. On their return, they started shooting sporadically, which led to chaos. Residents also responded by pelting stones at the soldiers,” the source said.
The situation reportedly worsened when the soldiers allegedly fired shots in different directions, causing deaths and injuries.
One of the victims, identified simply as Omeiza, a Point of Sale (POS) operator, was reportedly inside his kiosk when a stray bullet struck him. He was later confirmed dead.
Another victim was said to have been hit by gunfire while sitting inside his home and died shortly after being taken to hospital.
A separate eyewitness account claimed the incident was sparked when some off-duty soldiers who had returned home for the festival reacted to reports that their colleagues had been attacked by masqueraders in the Inorere area of Ogaminana.
According to the source, attempts by the Adavi Peace Committee and the local cultural union to de-escalate the situation and placate the aggrieved soldiers were unsuccessful.
“Despite immediate intervention by community leaders and stakeholders, all mediation efforts failed. The soldiers allegedly called for reinforcements from their operational base in Okene. Upon arrival, the responding troops began firing sporadically into the air,” the source said.
The witness added that innocent residents were among those killed, while several others suffered varying degrees of injuries.
Concerned residents have urged the Kogi State Government and security agencies to thoroughly investigate the incident and take steps to prevent further violence.
Efforts to get an official response from the Kogi State Police Command were unsuccessful as of press time. The Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Afusat Oyiza Saliu, neither answered calls nor replied to text messages seeking comment.
Kogi Suspends Echane Festival
Following the incident, the Kogi State Government announced the immediate suspension of the Echane Festival across Ebiraland.
In a statement issued by the Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Femi Fanwo, the government said intelligence reports indicated that activities connected to the festival posed a threat to public safety and could trigger a breakdown of law and order in parts of Kogi Central Senatorial District.
While recognising the cultural importance of traditional festivals, the government emphasised that safeguarding lives and property remains its foremost responsibility.
The statement noted that Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo had directed the immediate suspension of the festival in the interest of peace and public safety.
The governor also instructed security agencies to enforce strict compliance with the directive, warning that anyone organising, participating in, or promoting activities linked to the suspended festival would face sanctions under the law.
The government appealed to traditional rulers, community leaders, youth groups, and residents to work with security agencies in maintaining peace and stability across the affected communities.
It reiterated its commitment to protecting lives and property and pledged to continue taking proactive steps to preserve peace and harmony in the state.