Cross River State Governor Bassey Otu has described the road crash involving students of the University of Cross River State (UNICROSS) as a "devastating tragedy" that has plunged the state into mourning.
Three students and a university staff member died after a bus collided with a container truck on the Calabar–Itu Highway on Friday night.
The governor’s Special Adviser on General Duties, Ekpeyong Akiba, represented Otu during visits to injured students receiving treatment in four hospitals in Calabar.
Akiba assured the victims of government support in the crash that happened at Ikot Okon in Odukpani Local Government Area (LGA).
A coaster bus carrying 24 UNICROSS students and one staff member was returning from an official assignment in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, when it collided with the truck.
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Those who died were named as Students’ Union Government Director of Sports Solomon Uya, Faculty of Physical Sciences Students’ Association President Lucky Erim, Educational Management student Favour Darlington, and bus driver Anthony Arikpo.
More than 20 students sustained varying degrees of injuries.
Security agencies and the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) carried out rescue efforts.
The governor said the state government would continue to support survivors and their families as he prayed for the speedy recovery of those hospitalised.
One surviving student described the crash as traumatic, saying it happened suddenly and threw passengers into panic.
Investigations into the crash are ongoing, according to reports.
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