Revealed: How Tricycle Crush Only Surviving Son Participating in Imo-Awka Masquerade Carnival

By Praise Chinecherem

Fresh details have emerged on how a surviving son tragically died on Sunday, May 11, 2025 while participating in the annual ‘Imo-Awka’ Masquerade festival in Awka, Anambra State capital.

The ill-fated masquerade performer has been as Frank Anne, 17, a native of Okperi Village in Amikwo Awka.

AnambraDaily gathered that the deceased, performing in a masquerade costume, lost his life after being hit by a speeding tricycle along Ogechukwu Street, off Arthur Eze Avenue, during the cultural celebrations.

Witnesses at the scene said the crash left his head crushed, leading to an instant death on the spot.

According to a reliable source close to the family, was the first child of his mother and only surviving son in his immediate family before his death.

The source added that the accident was not the first time the bereaved family had suffered similar shock in recent times, a development that had thrown them into mourning.

“Frank’s elder brother had also died earlier this year. With Frank’s demise, the family is now left with only two daughters and no surviving male child.

“In fact, it’s a double tragedy. It’s a very shocking loss for the family,” the source disclosed.

The deceased, it was also gathered, was buried same Sunday of the incident as the family’s financial situation could not afford preservation of the body in the morgue.

The ugly development has continued to generate reactions within the community and beyond, with many residents expressing concern over continued loss of lives during the annual Imo Awka Festival.

Others questioned the rationale behind involving teenagers and children in such high-risk street processions, especially without adequate safety measures in place.

“This is not the first time someone is dying during Imo Awka. There should be better regulation and protection for those who participate in the masquerade displays,” a resident lamented.

Social media platforms have also been awash with mixed reactions, as while some users sympathized with the bereaved family and condemned the tragic accident, others mocked the idea that a “masquerade,”could die, raising cultural and theologicalquestions about the nature of masquerades.

Some critics have called on cultural custodians to rethink the location and method of hosting such festivals, suggesting a move to designated village squares or community arenas, instead of major roads, to avoid further loss of lives.

The Imo-Oka Festival is one of the most revered cultural festivals in Awka Kingdom, symbolizing the return of ancestral spirits and celebrated with masquerade performances, spiritual rites, and street parades. However, the festival, which usually holds in May each year, has also been marred by at least one tragic incident nearly every season, raising public safety concerns.