Cultural life of the people of Uyo, Akqa Ibom State, was temporarily halted when Ekpo, a popular but dreaded masquerade was knocked down by a hit and run driver, on Thursday.
The Ekpo, who nobody knew where he came from, was said have been hit when the driver, who was in a high speed, tried to avoid another vehicle on the road, and the process him over him, in the Use Offot axis of Uyo, close to the University of Uyo main campus.
An eyewitness said it was initially thought the masquerade, which most people in Akwa Ibom consider to be spirit from the other world, would stand up and continue with his parade. But after most time, it was obvious that he was badly hurt.
“People could not go to help him because ekpo is a dreaded culture. They just stood at a distance to observe him writhe in pains till he died,” a witness told Saturday Sun.
The state commissioner for information, Mr Charles Udoh, who confirmed the incident said, when he was informed that ekpo has been killed , he called the appropriate authorities to go and evacuate the corpse.
“The unfortunate thing is that he was dead before help could come his way. And knowing how people regard ekpo in our clime, maybe, if he was a normal person that was knocked, passers-by could have stopped to help.
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