By Frank Ulom
Several students have been injured and hospitalised following the stampede that broke out during examinations at the University of Calabar (UNICAL), Calabar, Cross River State.
CONVERSEER gathered that the incident occurred on Saturday morning, November 11, 2023, at the GSS Centre.
According to sources, the students who were writing general courses could not find a venue to write exams as a multitude registered for the GSS.
Some of the students who shared their experiences said it has been hell since the beginning of the GSS exams following venue shortages.
As shared in the popular University of Calabar (UNICAL) Students & Aspirants Forum public Facebook group, not less than 16 students were stampeded during the GSS exams.
“About 16 students were affected; 3 fainted and some sustained injuries,” Vivian Christian, one of the students posted.
Some of the students also confirmed that no life was lost. “Nobody died, they only fainted,” Yungdon Edem also posted on the Facebook group.
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Another student who identified herself as Grace said she thanked God for her life, adding “It’s because of GSS. They started a stampede and many students were falling and stepping on each other. Some of them fainted and many got injured.
“It was like hell, even palliative sef no reach watin happen today. Even if you try to run out of the crowd, there’s no way out – only God saved me.”
Meanwhile, CrossRiverWatch reported that many were carried in an ambulance to the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH).
“We have received about 15 students whom we are struggling to stabilise, and some resuscitate,” an anonymous source from the hospital CrossRiverWatch.
A parent of one student also said that his daughter was billed to write her exams on Friday but couldn’t. He said she sustained injuries when she was trying to escape the shoving from others.
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“The facilities were not enough and some were asked to stay outside despite the heavy downpour experienced yesterday (Friday). Because of that, she did not know where the hole was and she fell. Luckily, she was helped up by other students, but she hurt her leg and sustained other injuries,” the parent said.
CONVERSEER further gathered that there was a similar situation on Friday (November 10, 2023) following the rainfall which caused a heavy flood that disrupted the same GSS exams.
When contacted, Mr Effiong Eyo, Public Relations Officer of UNICAL told CONVERSEER that he is not in town (Calabar).
“I am not in town,” Eyo said in a text message.
