Ayade visits Calabar carnival accident victims
On Wednesday, there was a heavy police presence on the Calabar Carnival route, following an accident that claimed seven lives and injured several others during the bikers' parade on Tuesday.
A driver had broken through the barricade and plowed into the crowd of spectators, killing several.
To avoid a repeat of the incident, police officers were stationed every 50 meters along the 12-kilometer carnival route.
They were spotted on Mary Slessor Avenue, near the scene of the Tuesday accident. They have also been spotted on Marian Road, MCC, and the Murtala Muhammad Highway.
Meanwhile, Cross River State Governor Ben Ayade paid a visit to the Navy Reference Hospital in Calabar to sympathize with the victims of the motorcycle parade accident and to pay their hospital bills.
The governor also paid a visit to Bogobiri, the site of the accident, to express his condolences to the Hausa/Fulani community led by Seriki Garuba Lawan.
The incident at the Navy hospital was described by Ayade 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 the bikers' parade car accident victims. "We're here to accept the bills and to show compassion." What happened was a learning experience, and it emphasizes the importance of respecting all road barricades for the carnival.
"This is the first time we have had an incident of this nature and I can assure you that it won't happen again. We submit to God's will with all of our feelings of grief and melancholy."
"Moving forward, every arm of the security agencies will be fully deployed, and the barricades will be fully policed," he added.
He vowed that any motorist who breaks the rules or crosses the barricades will be held accountable.
