Cross River State Governor, Ben Ayade has sympathised with the families of persons killed by a motorist who allegedly rammed into a crowd that thronged the calabar carnival to watch the bikers parade.
This was contained in a statement signed by his chief press secretary, Barrister Christian ita and made available to media houses, on Tuesday.
The statement said 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.
It added that he has also directed the immediate discontinuation of the Bikers parade in honour of the victims of the accident.
It noted that Governor Ayade is sad and devasted by the incident and has directed security agencies to apprehend the motorist who is on the run.
The statement said that the governor while promising to ensure the culprit is arrested and brought to book, however, sued for calm.
Atleast seven persons, among them a pregnant woman were reported killed while about 20 others were injured and in critical condition during the Bikers carnival, an integral event of the Carnival Calabar 2022.
The injured were said to have been rushed to the General Hospital, Mary Slessor, while others were taken to Navy Reference Hospital on the Muritala Mohammed Highway, Calabar.
Eyewitnesses said that a Toyota Camry lost control and rammed into crowd of on lookers in front of the Mosque in Bogobiri along Mary Slessor during the Bikers Carnival..
The Camry with registration number DUK 505 PE, according to them was not part of those on the usual procession.
Confirming the accident, Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, 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 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.
“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.
