A yet-to-be identified man was on Saturday burnt to death while trying to pull a stunt in a masquerader attire in Anambra State.
A viral video on social media had shown a masquerade burnt after a fire stunt during the Eli’m Ede Cultural Festival at Amawa village square, Ogbunike, Oyi Local Government Area of Anambra State.
The Eli’m Ede Festival is an annual event, where masqueraders of various sizes and shapes gather at the village square to entertain indigenes.
An eyewitness said the masquerade attendants, while leading the masquerader to Amawa Square to entertain the waiting spectators, had pulled a fire stunt in front of the masquerade, which was sitting on the ground, but immediately tried to extinguish it.
He said, “After they extinguished the fire, unknown to the attendants, the fire had entered the raffia costume worn by the masquerader, and before they could put it off, it spread all over the masquerade and burnt the masquerader.”
It was learnt that the masquerader, who sustained serious burns, was rushed to the hospital, where he was confirmed dead on Monday evening.
The masquerade, seen in the video recorded by Umunna TV, was apparently trying to test the potency of his magic, but it failed it on the occasion.