Calabar Carnival: Tragedy disrupt Bikers/Exotic cars parade

On Tuesday, December 27, 2022, fourteen persons were confirmed dead at the Bikers/Exotic cars parade after a Toyota Camry lost control and rammed into a congregation of spectators at Bogobiri axis of the Carnival route barely two hours after flag-off by the Cross River State governor, Senator (Prof.) Ben Ayade in Calabar.

The tragedy forced the governor to momentarily suspend the parade which is part of a week-long event marking this year’s carnival Calabar. Also, an unconfirmed number of persons were reported to sustain various degrees of injuries and taking treatment in nearby medical facilities while corpses were deposited at the morgues.

A statement by the Special Adviser on Media and Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Barrister Christian Ita said Governor Ben Ayade is devastated by the incident and has directed security agencies to apprehend the motorist said to be on the run.

Governor Ayade who directed the immediate discontinuation of the Bikers/Exotic Cars parade promised to ensure the culprit is arrested and brought to book but sued for calm.

By: Archibong Emmanuel
(Snr. Reporter)