The festival, which attracts visitors from within and outside Nigeria, is scheduled to officially begin on May 19 and conclude on May 24.
The Imo Awka Festival in Awka, Anambra State, recorded its first casualty as a tricycle (Keke NAPEP) crushed a masquerade to death on Sunday. The incident happened while the masquerade was moving along the road.
An eyewitness shared, “One masquerade was hit by a Keke NAPEP on Sunday, and his head was crushed. It was indeed a sad development.” The tricycle operator was immediately arrested. The festival, set to officially begin on May 19, has previously seen fatalities, raising concerns over the safety of participants.