Students of the University of Cross River State (UNICROSS) on Monday 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 accident involving members of the institution.

The protest followed a tragic incident on Saturday, in which a vehicle conveying 24 students and a staff member was involved in an accident in Odukpani Local Government Area of Cross River State. The crash claimed at least four lives and left several others injured.

Many of the victims were said to be members of the Students’ Union Government (SUG) executive who were returning from an official engagement in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, at the time of the accident.

During the demonstration, the visibly aggrieved students accused hospital authorities of failing to respond promptly, alleging that delays in providing emergency care contributed to the number of fatalities. They insisted that a more responsive intervention could have reduced the casualties.

The protesters, who carried placards and chanted solidarity songs, demanded accountability from hospital management and called for urgent reforms in the facility’s emergency response system.

Eyewitnesses reported that tensions escalated within the hospital premises as security personnel were deployed to maintain order. Some students were allegedly dispersed during the protest, with reports indicating that a number of them lost consciousness amid the confrontation with security operatives.

The students called on the Cross River State Government and relevant health authorities to launch a full investigation into the incident and ensure that anyone found culpable is held accountable. They also urged authorities to strengthen emergency healthcare services across the state to prevent a recurrence.

As of the time of filing this report, the management of the General Hospital, Calabar, had not issued an official statement in response to the allegations. (TRIBUNE)