Protesting UNICROSSS students
By Ita Williams, Calabar
Anger and grief swept through Calabar on Monday as students of UNICROSS took to the streets, mourning colleagues lost in a tragic road accident and protesting what they described as medical negligence.
The students gathered at the General Hospital, expressing frustration over what they termed a slow and inadequate response to victims brought in after Saturday’s crash in Odukpani.
The accident involved a vehicle carrying 24 students and a staff member, many of whom were said to be returning from an official engagement.
Four lives were lost, leaving the university community in shock and sorrow.
Among the victims were key members of the Students’ Union Government, deepening the sense of loss across campus.
“We are not just protesting; we are grieving,” a visibly emotional student said. “Our friends didn’t deserve to die like this.”
Protesters insisted that quicker medical attention might have changed the outcome for some of the victims.
Placards bearing inscriptions such as “Save Our Students” and “Fix Our Hospitals” were displayed as chants echoed through the hospital grounds.
The situation became tense as security personnel moved in to control the growing crowd.
Some students reportedly fainted during the confrontation, adding to the already charged atmosphere.
The demonstrators called on authorities to investigate the hospital’s handling of the emergency.
They also demanded urgent reforms to ensure that future accident victims receive prompt care.
Hospital officials had not issued any statement as of press time.
