The death toll in the Calabar carnival incident has increased to eight, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.
The Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in Cross River, Maikano Hassan, disclosed this to NAN in Calabar on Wednesday.
NAN reports that the incident occurred during the Bikers’ parade carnival, an integral part of the annual Calabar carnival, on Tuesday.
The incident occurred in front of the Juma’at Mosque in Bogobiri when a driver of a Camry lost control and rammed into the crowd of onlookers.
Seven people were said to have died on the spot, while 29 others were rushed to the Naval Hospital and the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital for medical attention.
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The injured included 21 men, three women, two male children and three female children.
The FRSC sector commander said “We went round the hospital where the injured were being treated to discover that one additional death had been recorded.
“We are also pleased to say that some of those injured in the incident had been discharged, while others were responding well to treatment,’’ he said.
NAN reports that the Tuesday incident, which had Gov. Ben Ayade and other dignitaries in attendance, brought the day-five activity of the carnival to an abrupt end.
NAN also reports that the annual carnival, which started during the administration of former Gov. Donald Duke, had not held in the last two years.
The carnival was suspended in 2020 due to the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic, while no reason was given for its failure to hold in 2021.
Meanwhile, the governor has condoled the families of those who lost their lives and promised to bring to justice the driver of the vehicle who caused the accident.
NAN reports that the driver of the vehicle has been arrested.
