Students of the University of Cross River State (UNICROSS) in Calabar, Cross River State, staged a violent protest on Monday, grounding parts of the city. The demonstration was sparked by a fatal motor accident involving their colleagues and a driver, who were returning from a friendly football match in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State. The accident, a head-on collision with a truck on the Odukpani axis of the Calabar-Itu federal highway, resulted in the deaths of several students and a driver, with others sustaining critical injuries.

Aggrieved students alleged that their injured colleagues received inadequate medical attention upon being admitted to the General Hospital Calabar. They claimed that neither food nor effective medical care was administered, leading to what they described as "murder by negligence." Students reportedly shouted, "They watched our colleagues die. No urgency, no care, nothing. This is murder by negligence," during their protest.

The protest, which began from the university campus, quickly escalated as large numbers of students marched through the city, blocking major roads. They targeted the General Hospital on Mary Slessor Road, where they vandalized facilities, including damaging the hospital bus, smashing glasses, destroying other equipment, and forcibly bringing down the hospital's signpost. The students later proceeded towards the Governor’s Office, further intensifying the disruption.

In response to the unrest, the Cross River State Police Command denied any gunfire exchange or student fatalities during the protest. The state PPRO, ASP Eitokpah Sunday Akata, stated that "smoke guns were shot into the air to control the protesters who were beginning to be violent," and affirmed that "none of the protesters was gunned down." Security operatives, including mobile policemen and armed soldiers from the 13 Brigade of the Nigerian Army, were deployed to restore order, taking over certain black spots and guarding key areas.

However, eyewitnesses contradicted the police account, claiming that some students were exchanging gunfire with the police, leading to the reported deaths of two students. A trending video circulating during the protest showed gunshots being heard as protesters fled for safety. Students also accused security forces of using excessive force to disperse what they maintained were peaceful demonstrators, further escalating tensions.

Meanwhile, the Commissioner for Health in Cross River State, Dr. Henry Egbe Ayuk, issued a rejoinder, refuting social media claims that the injured students were abandoned. He labelled these claims as "inflammatory" and "unfounded," stating that the emergency response was swift and coordinated. Dr. Ayuk explained that upon the victims' arrival at General Hospital Calabar, available medical personnel were mobilized, and additional healthcare professionals were contacted.

Dr. Ayuk further clarified that due to the severity of some injuries, officers of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) made the professional decision to transfer critically injured victims to the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH), a tertiary facility better equipped for complex trauma cases. He emphasized that all fatalities recorded from the accident occurred at the scene, and no lives were lost due to delayed or inadequate medical attention at any health facility. He reiterated that in emergency situations of this magnitude, immediate life-saving interventions are prioritized over media engagement.