A protest by students of University of Cross River State escalated into violence on Monday in Calabar, following a fatal road accident that claimed the lives of three students and a staff member.
The demonstration, initially sparked by outrage over the incident, turned chaotic as protesters reportedly vandalised property at a nearby hospital. An ambulance was among the items damaged, while patients and their relatives fled the facility in fear as tensions heightened.
Security operatives later intervened, dispersing the crowd as the unrest spread towards the Governor’s Office within the city.
Reacting to the incident, public affairs commentator Clement Ene condemned the destruction, stressing that protests should not be used as a cover for violence or vandalism.
Another resident, identified as Diosk, questioned the preparedness of security agencies, noting that information about the protest had circulated widely before it began. He argued that earlier intervention could have prevented the escalation and limited the demonstration to the university premises.
Similarly, a commentator named Godwin defended citizens’ right to protest but emphasised that such actions must remain peaceful. He linked recurring unrest in the area to broader socio-economic challenges and poor infrastructure, particularly the state of major roads.
Confirming the situation, Cross River State Police spokesperson, Sunday Eitokpah, said the disturbance had been brought under control and dismissed reports that any protesters were shot.
According to him, officers deployed smoke canisters and teargas to disperse the crowd after some demonstrators became violent and allegedly attempted to force entry into the Governor’s Office.
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