Calabar Carnival Tragedy: 7 Dead, 29 Injured After Vehicle Rams Into Crowd

At least seven people died and 29 others were injured in a tragic accident that took place during the annual Calabar Carnival's Bikers parade Tuesday, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) said.

The incident occured when a Toyota Camry car lost control and rammed into a crowd during the Bikers Parade activity of the Calabar carnival that was taking place in front of the Jumat Mosque in Bogobiri in the capital city of Cross River. Several people were watching the bikers' stunts when the car smashed into the crowd, leaving many injured along the road, according to witnesses.

"The incident occurred when a Toyota Camry car lost control and rammed into a crowd of onlookers during the carnival," said Maikano Hassan, head of the road safety corps in Cross River, as per Ripples Nigeria. He added the car was traveling at high speed when it lost security controls and ran through the crowd.

Hassan confirmed a total of 21 male adults, three women, two male children, and three female children were injured in the accident. Those injured were quickly taken to the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH) for medical assistance, as per Daily Post.

Cross River Governor Benedict Ayade expressed sadness over the unfortunate incident in which a reckless driver drove into a large group of people who were gathered to watch the bikers parade.

A statement was issued by Ayade's media aide, Christian Ita, promising to hold the culprit accountable and bring them to justice. The governor also directed security agencies to arrest the motorist who was on the run, Nigerian Tribune reported.

The governor further called for the immediate discontinuation of the Bikers parade to honor the victims of the accident.

The Calabar Carnival is one of Nigeria's newer annual festivals, having started in 2006 during Donald Duke's administration. Now held every year, it's been dubbed the country's largest street party. The carnival lasts a month, from December 1-31, and features a range of events such as dancing, music, bike parades, and other cultural activities. The biker's show is one of the biggest highlights of the carnival. Thousands of people gather every year to watch the stunts performed by bikers.

It is worth noting that the annual carnival has not been held for the past two years due to the Covid-19 pandemic.