THE DEATH TOLL AT THE CALABAR CARNIVAL HAS RISEN TO EIGHT, ACCORDING TO THE FRSC.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the dead toll in the Calabar carnival tragedy has risen to eight.
Maikano Hassan, Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in Cross River, confirmed this to NAN in Calabar on Wednesday.

According to NAN, a fatal occurrence occurred on Tuesday during the Bikers’ parade carnival, which is an important feature of the yearly Calabar carnival.

The accident happened in front of the Jumat Mosque in Bogobiri when the driver of a Toyota Camry lost control and slammed into a gathering of onlookers.

Seven people were said to have died on the spot, while 29 others were taken to the Naval Hospital and the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital for treatment.

There were 21 male adults, three women, two male children, and three female children among those injured.

According to the FRSC sector commander, the new victim was one of the three injured female youngsters.

“We went around the hospital where the injured were being treated and discovered that one more death had been registered.

“We are also happy to report that some of those injured in the incident have been discharged, while others are responding well to therapy,” he added.

According to NAN, the Tuesday event, which was seen by Gov. Ben Ayade and other dignitaries, effectively ended the carnival’s day five activities.

NAN also claims that the yearly carnival, which began during former Gov. Donald Duke’s administration, has not been held in the last two years.

The carnival was canceled in 2020 owing to the COVID-19 pandemic, and no reason was offered for its cancellation in 2021.

Meanwhile, the governor has expressed condolences to the families of those who died and promised to bring the driver of the vehicle involved in the accident to justice.

According to NAN, the driver of the vehicle was arrested and is currently being held under police guard in an undisclosed health institution where he is receiving treatment for the wounds he got in the incident.

Sule Balarabe, the state’s Commissioner of Police, verified the driver’s detention.