Seven people were killed and 29 injured at Calabar Carnival on Tuesday when a car lost control and rammed into a crowd of onlookers, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has said.

Sector Commander of the Corps, Maikano Hassan, confirmed the number of casualties.

He said the incident occurred in front of the Jumat Mosque in Bogobiri, Calabar, during the Bikers Carnival activity, which is part of the carnival.

Hassan listed the number of injured to include 21 male adults, three women, two male children and three female children.

He said the injured were rushed to the naval hospital and the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital for medical attention.

He said the remains of the dead had been deposited in the two hospitals in Calabar.

The incident, according to him, occurred when a Toyota Camry car lost control and rammed into a crowd of onlookers during the carnival.

Cross River State Governor, Ben Ayade, was already seated with other dignitaries when the accident occurred. The incident brought the day five activities to a sudden end.

It would be recalled that the annual carnival which started during the administration of Donald Duke, did not hold for the past two years.

The carnival was suspended in 2020 because of the Covid-19 pandemic. No reason was, however, given for the carnival not being held in 2021.

PT