Carnival Calabar: Ayade reacts as Bikers event turns bloody
From Aniekan Aniekan, Calabar
Cross River State Governor, Prof Ben Ayade has expressed sadness over the ugly incident in which an errant motorist ploughed into a crowd that thronged the Carnival route to watch the bikers parade.
The governor made this known in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Christian Ita.
The governor’s statement follows a tragic incident that occurred on Tuesday during the fifth day of activities in this year’s annual Calabar Carnival.
Barely twenty minutes after the ‘Bikers Carnival” was flagged off at the Eleven Eleven Roundabout in Calabar, a vehicles rammed into onlookers at the Bogobiri Junction in front of the Central Mosque.
The event was subsequently brought to an abrupt end after scores were killed on the spot and residents around the area which is a Hausa settlement were prevented from taking to the streets my men of the Police Anti Cultism Squad.
The Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Cross River, Maikano Hassan who confirmed the incident, said it occurred when a driver of a Camry car lost control and rammed into a crowd of onlookers.
Hassan who could not give the figure of casualty, said that victims of the incident have been all evacuated to hospital.
“I am on my way to the hospital to ascertain the figure of deaths and those injured.
“But I can confirm that the reports is true and will get back to you as soon as am able to establish the number of casualties.”
Eye witness account however put the figure of deaths at no fewer than 6.
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 and promised to ensure the culprit is arrested and brought to book.
