By Kamsi Anayo, Awka
It was a sad Sunday day In Awka, the Anambra State capital as a tricycle crushed a masquerade to death.
The indigenes of Awka on May every year mark Imo Awka Festival, a festival that celebrates the town’s god, which has the money as its symbol.
In spite of the prevalence of monkeys in the town and the havoc they wreck, no one dares to harm them.
Though the celebration spans a week in the month of May, as a way of drumming awareness for the upcoming event, masquerading youths take to the streets in masquerade costumes, days before its commencement.
They also carry along with them canes, with which they engage in flogging competitions with other masquerades, while some others block the way of motorists to seek fast money.
It was gathered that on Sunday, a boy in masquerade costumes was knocked down by a tricycle.
An eyewitness, Mr Iyke Orji said: “This afternoon (Sunday) in Awka, Imo Awka masquerades were seen everywhere. One small boy (in a costume) masquerade was hit by a Keke NAPEP and his head crushed. It was indeed a sad day.”
It was also gathered that the tricycle operator was instantly arrested.
There have been cases of loss of lives during the celebration of Imo Awka Festival in previous years, leading to questions as to why must there be avoidable deaths during the festival.
This year’s egwu Imo Awka Festival is expected to commence on May 19 and climax on May 24.
