At least seven persons, including a pregnant woman, have been killed, while no fewer than 20 others were brutally injured and in critical condition during the Bikers carnival, at an annual event of the Carnival Calabar 2022.
An eyewitness told Vanguard that no fewer than 30 persons were affected by the tragedy as many have been rushed to General Hospital, Mary Slessor, while others were taken to Navy Reference Hospital on the Muritala Mohammed Highway, Calabar.
The Camry with registration number DUK 505 PE, according to multiple sources, was not part of those on the usual procession.
Security agencies, including Nigerian Army, Police, and Civil Defense amongst others were at the scene to calm the situation.
Confirming the accident, Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, last night, said that only seven persons have so far died while 29 others were injured in the tragic incident, which occurred during the Bikers parade, an intergral part of the annual Calabar Carnival held on Tuesday.
Sector Commander of the Corps, Maikano Hassan, confirmed the incident.
The accident occurred in front of Mosque in Bogobiri along Mary Slessor during the Bikers Carnival.
The Sector Commander disclosed that the number of injured involved in the accident were 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, General Hospital for medical attention.
Speaking further, he said that the remains of the dead had been deposited in morgues of two hospitals in Calabar.
He said: “The incident occurred when a Toyota Camry car lost control and rammed into crowd of onlookers during the carnival.
“While the injured are receiving treatment, those who died have been deposited in the morgue of the Naval hospital and the University of Calabar Teaching hospital,” he said.
Meanwhile, Governor Ben Ayade of Cross Rivers State, has condoled with families of those who lost their lives and promised to bring to book the driver of the vehicle that caused the accident.
Ayade expressed sadness over the ugly incident where an errant motorist rammed into a crowd that thronged the Carnival route to watch the bikers parade.
