Students of the University of Cross River State (UNICROSS) on Monday took to the streets of Calabar in protest over the deaths of three of their colleagues and a driver, which they attributed to alleged negligence at the General Hospital, Calabar.
The angry students marched from the university campus through Mary Slessor Avenue to the hospital, where they vandalised signage before heading to the Governor’s Office. The protest later escalated into a confrontation with armed police officers.
Vanguard gathered that several students sustained injuries during the clash. Following the incident, hospital workers reportedly abandoned the facility out of fear of possible attacks.
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The deceased were said to have died in a severe road crash over the weekend while returning from an official engagement in Akwa Ibom State. The protesting students accused the hospital of delaying treatment when the victims were brought in.
Reacting to the situation, the Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Sunday Eitokpah, confirmed that order had been restored.
“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.
Security operatives eventually dispersed the protesters as tension heightened across the area.