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 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.
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.
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Meanwhile, Gov Ayade has condoled the families of those who lost their lives and promised to bring to book the driver of the vehicle that caused the accident.
The Governor, however, ordered the discontinuation of the segment of the Calabar Carnival- the Bikers Parade.
He has also ordered an immediate investigation into the incident in a swift press statement signed by his media adviser and chief press secretary, Barrister Christian Ita.
“While sympathising with the victims of the accident and their families, the governor has 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,” the statement reads in part.
