BY: Vitalis Ugoh Calabar
Over 10 persons were confirmed dead while many others were rushed to the General Hospital, Calabar as a car ploughed into the crowd that came to watch the Biker’s carnival at the ongoing Calabar Carnival.
Biker’s carnival is one of the many events lined up for the 2022 Calabar Carnival.
Eyewitness account said that the car had a head-on collision with one of the bikers and lost control and rammed into the crowd killing many and several others injured.
Sadly, some of the victims were crushed to death while those who survived sustained terrible injuries.
The incident occured at the popular Bogobiri junction while the Biker’s carnival was ongoing.
Consequent upon this ugly incident, there was a huge protest by the Hausa community in the area, who allegedly threw stones and other dangerous weapons in protest over the incident.
This ugly development attracted the presence of security personnel who exchanged gunfire with the protesters, while spectators scampered for safety.
Meanwhile, Cross River State governor, Prof. Ben Ayade has expressed sadness over the ugly incident where an errant motorist ploughed into a crowd that thronged the Carnival route to watch the bikers parade.
Speaking through his Special Adviser on Media and Chief Press Secretary, Barr. Christian Ita, “Ayade is devasted by the incident and has directed security agencies to apprehend the motorist who is on the run.”
“While sympathising with the victims of the accident and their families, the governor, according to the statement, 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”.
Ita said the governor directed the immediate discontinuation of the Bikers parade in honour of the victims of the accident.
Ayade while promising to ensure the culprit is arrested and brought to book, however, sued for calm.
