Many were feared killed, while about 20 persons sustained injuries after a truck crashed into a crowd around the venue of Calabar Carnival in Cross River State.
The incident happened at about 4pm on Tuesday on Mary Slessor Road, one of the carnival routes.
The Commissioner of Police in state, Balarabe Sule, who confirmed the incident, said the vehicle lost control and veered into the spectators at the ongoing carnival.
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In a telephone interview with our correspondent, Sule said, “I cannot confirm the actual number of the deaths presently but I can confirm that over 20 persons are injured following the accident.
“I have personally helped to evacuate a good number of the injured and some corpses to about three clinics in Calabar.”
But eyewitnesses maintained that when the accident occurred, there was violent public reaction.
The witnesses said more than 10 persons including spectators were killed when the vehicle lost control and swerved into the unsuspecting crowd.
As part of the Carnival, bikers and exotic cars were on parade today.
“We saw the truck coming from opposite direction of the carnival procession and rammed into waiting crowds of spectators, hawkers and residents of Bogobiri.
“The accident caused public anger against the driver. About 10 persons are believed to have been killed,” an eyewitness said.
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