Students of the University of Cross River State (UNICROSS) on Monday, May 4, staged a protest at the General Hospital, Calabar, over what they described as a delayed and inadequate medical response to victims of a recent road crash involving members of the institution.
The demonstration followed a tragic accident on Saturday, May 2, along Odukpani Local Government Area of Cross River State, where a vehicle conveying 24 students and a staff member was involved in a crash. The incident reportedly claimed at least four lives and left several others injured.
According to reports, many of the victims were members of the Students’ Union Government (SUG) executive who were returning from an official engagement in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, when the accident occurred.
During the protest, the aggrieved students accused hospital personnel of failing to respond swiftly to the emergency, alleging that delays in treatment contributed to the number of deaths recorded. They insisted that quicker intervention could have reduced the fatalities.
The students, who carried placards and chanted solidarity songs, demanded accountability from the hospital management and called for urgent reforms in the facility’s emergency response system.
Tension escalated within the hospital premises following the deployment of security personnel to restore order, with tear gas reportedly fired to disperse the protesting students.
The protesters urged the Cross River State Government and relevant health authorities to launch a full investigation into the incident, insisting that anyone found culpable should be held accountable. They also called for improved emergency healthcare services across the state to prevent similar occurrences in the future.