KEY PONTS
- Three students and a driver died after an accident, with colleagues blaming poor treatment at the hospital for worsening the situation.
- Protests by students in Calabar turned violent, leading to clashes with security forces and injuries.
- Authorities restored calm, but tension remains high amid demands for accountability and better healthcare response.
The crisis began after three students of the University of Calabar State and a driver lost their lives following a ghastly motor accident that occurred over the weekend while they were returning from an official engagement in Akwa Ibom State.
The victims were reportedly rushed to the General Hospital Calabar for urgent medical attention, but the situation quickly turned tragic, setting off outrage among their colleagues who believe the deaths could have been prevented with better care.
Angered by the loss, students openly accused the hospital of failing in its duty of care, alleging that medical personnel did not act with the urgency required to save the victims’ lives.
Many of the protesters described the incident as a case of “deliberate medical negligence,” insisting that their colleagues were left unattended or poorly managed at critical moments, which they believe directly contributed to the fatalities. The accusations fueled widespread anger across the campus, transforming grief into a demand for accountability.
Protest Turns Violent Across Calabar
The protest began peacefully from the university campus along Mary Slessor Avenue in Calabar but quickly escalated into a large-scale demonstration that disrupted normal activities in parts of the city.
Students marched in large numbers, blocking major roads and vandalising public signages as they moved toward the hospital and later the Governor’s Office to press their demands. The situation deteriorated further when security operatives confronted the protesters, leading to clashes that left several students injured and heightened tensions across the area.
As the unrest intensified, police authorities moved in to restore order, with spokesperson Sunday Eitokpah confirming that security personnel were deployed promptly to contain the situation. While officials maintained that calm had been restored, many students accused the security forces of using excessive force to disperse what they described as a justified protest, further escalating anger and distrust.
The confrontation also forced hospital staff to abandon their duty posts temporarily due to fears of reprisals from the aggrieved students.
By late afternoon, the atmosphere in Calabar remained tense, with a heavy security presence around key government buildings and the hospital facility as authorities monitored the situation closely.
Residents expressed concern over the possibility of further escalation, as the incident has sparked broader conversations about healthcare standards, emergency response systems, and accountability within public institutions.
