Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
A wave of grief and outrage swept through Calabar on Monday as students of the University of Cross River State (UNICROSS) took to the streets in a violent protest, accusing the state government hospital of medical negligence following the deaths of three of their colleagues and a university driver in a weekend road crash. The protesters marched from the main campus along Mary Slessor Avenue to the General Hospital Calabar, destroying signage and creating chaos. From there, they proceeded to the governor’s office, where they clashed with heavily armed police officers. Several students were reportedly injured in the confrontation, and the violence forced hospital staff to abandon their posts for fear of reprisal attacks, according to multiple eyewitnesses.
The tragedy that sparked the unrest occurred on Friday, May 1, 2026, along the Ikot Okon by Berger Yard axis of the Calabar-Itu Highway. Police sources said a container truck veered off its lane and rammed into a coaster bus conveying the students and a staff member back from an official engagement in Uyo, the capital of Akwa Ibom State. The bus, carrying 24 students and a driver, was returning from a meeting when the truck slammed into it. Two victims reportedly died on the spot. Two others, including one of the three students and the driver, died while being rushed to hospital for emergency care.
The university identified the deceased students as Solomon Uya, the Director of Sports of the Students’ Union Government (SUG); Lucky Erim, a Chemistry student and President of the Faculty of Physical Sciences Students’ Association; and Favour Darlington of the Department of Educational Management. The driver of the bus, a university staff member named Mr Anthony Arikpo, also died in the crash. Official estimates put the number of students injured in the crash at 21, many of whom are receiving treatment for grave injuries at various hospitals across the city, including the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH) and Arubah Specialist Hospital. The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) blamed the crash on overspeeding and confirmed that the truck driver fled the scene immediately after the collision and has not yet been found.
But the students’ fury on Monday was not directed primarily at the fleeing truck driver. It was directed at the state-run General Hospital Calabar, the first facility where the crash victims were taken. According to multiple accounts, some of the injured students were rejected at the General Hospital Calabar because there was no doctor on ground. Sources say the hospital turned away the victims, or delayed treatment to such an extent that critically injured patients lost precious time. The FRSC was eventually forced to rush the victims to the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital for emergency care. A viral video circulating online appeared to show injured students lying in the trunk of an FRSC vehicle parked outside the General Hospital, still waiting for attention. Digging deeper, medical personnel at the facility reportedly informed journalists that the hospital lacked a doctor on duty at the time. By the time the injured were eventually transferred, the window of survival for some of the most critical victims had already closed. “They watched our colleagues die. No urgency, no care, nothing. This is murder by negligence,” one protester told SaharaReporters.
By 10am on Monday, the rage had boiled over. Hundreds of students, many dressed in black, gathered at the university gate and began marching towards the city center, carrying banners and chanting slogans condemning negligence. The demonstrations forced many motorists to turn back. At the General Hospital, protesters smashed signposts and caused extensive disruption, forcing medical personnel who were not involved in the incident to flee the facility. As the students moved toward the governor’s office, police Tactical Squad officers responded with force. The police public relations officer for Cross River State, ASP Sunday Eitokpah, confirmed that officers were deployed to put the situation under control. “I’ve been right on the scene from the onset, and so far so good; we’ve been able to put the situation under control,” he said. Students, however, accused the security forces of using excessive force and teargas to disperse what they insisted was a peaceful demonstration, further fueling tension in the city. Several students were reportedly injured in the confrontation.
The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has since weighed in, calling for a full investigation. In a statement, NANS JCC Chairman Victor Asuquo expressed “strong concern and dissatisfaction” over reports that some victims were denied or delayed treatment at the General Hospital. “In moments of emergency, access to prompt and adequate healthcare should never be compromised,” the statement read. It also called on authorities to act to prevent a recurrence. However, NANS commended the staff of the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH) and Arubah Specialist Hospital for their swift response, as well as UNICROSS Vice Chancellor Professor Francisca Bassey for visiting the injured students late into the night.
The incident has ignited a fierce debate about the state of emergency healthcare in Cross River State. The state Commissioner for Education, Professor Stephen Odey, expressed deep sorrow over the incident, describing it as heartbreaking. He noted the untimely death of three promising students and a staff member has cast a shadow of grief across the state. As parts of Calabar remained tense on Monday evening, the state government’s reaction remained defensive. Meanwhile, the Cross River State Government has yet to publicly address the core allegation that its flagship hospital was unequipped to handle the emergency.
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