By PAMELA EBOH, Awka

An unidentified man performing in a masquerade’s raffia costume was over the weekend burnt to death while trying to pull a stunt during a cultural festival in Anambra State.

It was learnt that the incident happened during the annual Elim Ede Cultural Festival in Ogbunike town, Oyi Local Government Area of the state.

The Elim Ede Festival yearly celebrated by Anamba First Lady, Chief (Mrs) Ebelechukwu Obiano’s town is known for its signature display of various sizes and shapes of masquerades that gather at the village square to entertain indigenes.

According to an eyewitness, the masquerade attendants while leading the masquerade to Amawa Square to entertain pulled a fire stunt in front of the masquerade, which was sitting on the ground at the time, but they immediately extinguished it.

He added: “Unknown to the attendants, the fire had entered the raffia costume worn by the masquerade, and before they could put it off, it spread all over the body of the masquerade, causing the man in it, serious burns.”

News Express learnt that the man who sustained serious burns was rushed to the hospital, where he gave up the ghost in the evening of the next day.

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