By Nicholas Ojo
Cross River State Governor, Ben Ayade, has ordered discontinuation of a segment of the Calabar Carnival.
Many spectators were feared killed during the Bikers Carnival on Tuesday.
Some accounts claimed that no fewer than 20 persons died, while some said the figure is in the region of five, with several others injured.
It was gathered that the tragic incident occurred barely an hour after Governor Ben Ayade opened the Bikers/Exotic Cars Parade, which is part of the events leading to Wednesday’s Carnival in Calabar.
The incident occurred as Bikers and Car Racers competed to outdo one another on the road during which a vehicle veered off the road and rammed into spectators around the Bogobiri area of Mary Slessor in the state capital.
Biking is a major component of the Carnival Calabar which is holding for the first time in two years because of the Covid-19 pandemic.
At least 12 states are reportedly participating in the 2022 edition of Carnival Calabar namely Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Benue, Ebonyi, Gombe, Kaduna, Kogi, Kwara, Nasarawa, Ogun, Ondo and Osun.
The injured persons were taken to Navy Reference Hospital, Calabar, bringing the event to an abrupt end.
The governor, in a swift press statement signed by his media adviser and Chief Press Secretary, Barrister Christian Ita, has also ordered an immediate investigation into the incident.
Part of the statement said, “While sympathising with the victims of the accident and their families, 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.”
Ita said the Governor directed the immediate discontinuation of the Bikers parade in honour of the victims of the accident.
Governor Ayade, while promising to ensure that the culprit is arrested and brought to book, however sued for calm.
An errant motorist allegedly ploughed into a crowd that thronged the Carnival route to watch the bikers parade.
Ita said Governor Ayade is sad and devastated by the incident and has directed security agencies to apprehend the motorist who is on the run.