7 dead, 29 injured in Calabar Carnival incident; Gov Ayade orders arrest of driver
Ehigimetor Igbaugba
Calabar, Dec. 27, 2022
The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) 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 (NAN).
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 Naval hospital and the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH) 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 even though 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, had not been held in the last 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.
NAN reports that efforts were still being made to put some facilities in place for the 2022 edition of the carnival which was hurriedly put up.
Meanwhile, the Governor has expressed sadness over the incident that occurred during the Bikers’ Carnival at the ongoing Calabar carnival on Tuesday.
He made this known in a statement through his Special Adviser on media, Mr. Christian Ita.
The statement said that Ayade was devasted by the incident and had directed security agencies to apprehend the motorist who was on the run.
While sympathising with the victims of the accident and their families, the governor, ordered immediate investigation to unravel how the motorist beat security barricades to have access to the routes which were closed to the public.
Ita said the governor also directed the immediate discontinuation of the Bikers parade in honour of the victims of the accident.
While promising to ensure the culprit is arrested and brought to book, Ayade however, sued for calm.
NAN reports that seven persons died while 29 sustained various degrees of injuries during the incident.
