Gov Ayade Visits Calabar Carnival Accident Victims

Governor Ben Ayade of Cross River State has visited Calabar carnival accident victims, THE PUNCH report.

There was a heavy police presence on Calabar Carnival route on Wednesday following an accident that claimed seven lives and left several injured during the bikers’ parade on Tuesday.

A driver had breached the barricade and plowed into the crowd of spectators, killing several in the process.

To prevent a similar situation, teams of policemen were deployed every 50 metres along the 12-kilometre carnival route.

They were seen at Mary Slessor Avenue where the accident occurred on Tuesday. They were also seen at Marian road, MCC and Murtala Muhammad highway.

Meanwhile, Cross River state Governor, Ben Ayade, visited the Navy Reference Hospital, Calabar to empathise with victims of the bikers’ parade accident and pay their hospital bills.

The governor also visited Bogobiri, the scene of the accident, to commiserate with the Hausa/Fulani community led by Seriki Garuba Lawan.

At the Navy hospital, Ayade described the incident as “a sad learning curve that will never be allowed to happen again.”

He commended the management of the hospital “for responding promptly even when the government was yet to make a deposit.

“We are here at the Nigerian Navy Reference Hospital Calabar to show the government’s concern for victims of the bikers’ parade car accident. We are here to take the bills and show compassion.

“What happened was a learning curve, it speaks to the fact that all road barricades for the carnival must be respected.

“This is the first time we have had an incident of this nature and I can assure you that it won’t happen again. With all sense of grief, with all sense of melancholy, we submit to the will of God.”

He added that “moving forward every arm of the security agencies will be fully deployed and the barricades fully policed.”

He vowed that any motorist who flouts the rules or breaks the barricades will have him or herself to blame.