The Cross River State Government has strongly condemned the vandalism of facilities at the General Hospital in Calabar, following protests linked to a tragic accident involving students of the University of Cross River State (UNICROSS).
Commissioner's Assessment
During an on-the-spot assessment on Wednesday, the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Henry Ayuk, described the incident as “unfortunate and overblown.” He confirmed that infrastructure including an ambulance, electrical installations, doors, windows, and ward equipment were damaged. “We are assessing the extent of the damage. The ambulance screens have been broken, and parts of the hospital have been destroyed. We will also evaluate the impact on the wards,” he said.
Clarification on Accident Response
Ayuk explained that the protest stemmed from a fatal road accident along the Calabar–Uyo highway, where some students reportedly died at the scene. He clarified that injured victims brought to the General Hospital were promptly attended to, with critical cases referred to the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH) for specialized care. “We responded immediately, coordinated with UCTH and created space in the casualty unit to handle the victims,” he said.
The Commissioner stressed that no deaths were recorded at the General Hospital, attributing tensions to misinformation. “No patient died in this hospital. The deaths occurred at the scene. It is unfortunate that misinformation escalated the situation,” he added. While acknowledging the right to peaceful protest, Ayuk said the destruction of public property undermines healthcare delivery and assured that the government would address any gaps in emergency response.
Allegations of Hijacked Protest
Also speaking, the Special Assistant to the Governor on Nursing, Dr. Esu Coco-Bassey, condemned the incident, alleging that the protest was hijacked and fueled by misleading social media reports. “The accident happened along Odukpani Road, not in this hospital. Health workers attended to victims promptly, but unverified information triggered the protest,” he said.
A nurse in the casualty unit, Mr. Godwin Betiang, described how the situation turned chaotic, forcing staff and patients to flee. “I saw a mob approaching, including a young man carrying a gun. We had to run for our lives,” he said. He added that the protesters invaded wards, damaged equipment, and disrupted care, with some patients affected in the confusion, while many others fled the hospital out of fear.
Possible Cult Involvement
Meanwhile, a staff member of UNICROSS, who spoke on condition of anonymity, alleged that the situation escalated after suspected cultists hijacked what was initially planned as a candlelight procession in honour of the deceased students.
