Police denies shooting protesting students in Calabar
Cross River Police Deny Claims of Gunfire Exchange Amid Student Protests
Calabar, Cross River State – The Cross River State Command of the Nigeria Police has refuted reports of a gunfire exchange involving university students during a protest on Monday morning.
Students from the University of Cross River State (UNICROSS) took to the streets in response to the state government’s perceived neglect of their colleagues injured in a fatal motor vehicle accident over the weekend. The accident occurred on the Odukpani axis of the Calabar-Itu federal highway, claiming the lives of four students returning from Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.
Emergency services, including police and personnel from the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), evacuated six students to local hospitals, including the General Hospital in Calabar. However, protesters assert that the injured students did not receive adequate food or medical attention after their arrival.
In an escalation of tensions, students proceeded to the General Hospital on Mary Slessor Road, where they vandalized a hospital bus, shattered windows, and damaged other equipment. Video footage circulating on social media depicts the removal of the hospital’s signpost by demonstrators dressed largely in black.
Witnesses claimed that clashes erupted between the students and law enforcement, alleging that some protesters exchanged gunfire with police, resulting in the deaths of two students. In response, the police public relations officer, ASP Eitokpah Sunday Akata, denied any fatalities from the protest.
“None of the protesters was gunned down. Smoke guns were deployed to disperse protesters who were becoming violent,” Akata told reporters.
Police and armed personnel from the 13 Brigade of the Nigerian Army were observed securing key areas around the hospital, while Mobile Policemen patrolled neighboring streets to prevent further violence.
Dr. Henry Egbe Ayuk, the state commissioner for health, issued a statement addressing claims circulating on social media that the injured students were abandoned. He characterized these claims as misleading and inflammatory.
“It is unfortunate that some individuals have chosen this moment to spread misinformation and incite public sentiment,” Dr. Ayuk stated. He emphasized that emergency responses to the incident were coordinated and swift upon the arrival of the victims at the General Hospital.
Despite some injuries’ severity, Dr. Ayuk noted that the FRSC made a professional decision to transfer critically injured individuals to the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH), which is better equipped for complex trauma cases. He clarified that all fatalities from the accident occurred at the scene, and no lives were lost due to insufficient medical attention afterward.
“Emergency situations prioritize immediate life-saving interventions,” he added. “Relevant authorities were fully engaged on the ground to stabilize victims and prevent further loss of life.”
