The Federal Road Safety Corps has confirmed seven persons dead and 29 injured in an incident that occurred during the annual Calabar Carnival on Tuesday.
The Sector Commander of the Corps, Maikano Hassan, confirmed the number of casualties to the News Agency of Nigeria.
He said that the incident occurred in front of the Jumat Mosque in Bogobiri in the capital city of Cross River during the Bikers Carnival activity of the carnival.
Hassan listed the number of injured to include 21 male adults, three women, two male children and three female children.
He said that the injured were rushed to the Naval hospital and the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital for medical attention.
He said that the remains of the dead had been deposited in the two hospitals in Calabar.
According to him, the incident occurred when a Toyota Camry car lost control and rammed into a crowd of onlookers during the carnival.
NAN reports that the incident abruptly brought the day five activity to an end, where the state governor, Prof. Ben Ayade was already seated with other dignitaries.
It would be recalled that the annual carnival which started during the administration of Donald Duke, has not been held for the past two years.
The carnival was suspended in 2020 due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic while no reason was given for the carnival not holding in 2021.
Following the accident, Cross River State governor, Prof Ben Ayade, has expressed sadness over the incident, blaming it on an errant motorist who allegedly ploughed into a crowd that thronged the carnival route to watch the bikers’ parade.
The governor cancelled the parade following the accident which occurred at the Bogobiri axis of Mary Slessor Avenue. The victims were rushed to the hospital.
According to a statement by the Special Adviser on Media and Chief Press Secretary, Christian Ita, Governor Ayade is devasted by the incident and has directed security agencies to apprehend the motorist who is on the run.
He sympathised with the victims of the accident and their families and ordered an immediate investigation to unravel how the motorist was able to get through security barricades to have access to the routes which were closed to the public.
According to Ita, the Governor directed the immediate discontinuation of the bikers parade in honour of the victims of the accident.
He promised to ensure the culprit is arrested and brought to book and sued for calm.
NAN
