UNICROSS VC Visits Students Injured in Okuku Accident

The Vice Chancellor of the University of Cross River State (UNICROSS), Prof. Francisca Bassey, on Thursday visited students of the institution who sustained injuries in a motor accident near the Okuku Campus on Wednesday night.
Those injured were identified as Godsblessing Omachifu, a student of Agronomy; Adigor Philomina, Human Physiology; and Success Akomaye, Medical Biochemistry. Also involved in the crash was Obase Ojini Odenga, a University of Calabar student who had visited her sister at the campus.
Dean of the Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Dr. Ujong Peter, had earlier briefed the Vice Chancellor about the incident, after which she travelled from Calabar to the Catholic Maternity Hospital, Moniaya, Ogoja, where the students were receiving initial treatment.
The medical officer in charge, Dr. Madu Abuchi, revealed that one of the students had been in a coma for about eight hours, while another was unconscious at the time of admission. Disturbed by their condition, Prof. Bassey directed that immediate chest and head scans be carried out and that the students be moved to the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH) for specialist care.
She also contacted the Chief Medical Director of UCTH, Prof. Ikpeme A. Ikpeme, and the Chairman, Medical Advisory Committee, Dr. Innocent Abang, to ensure medical teams were on standby. The students were later transported to Calabar in an ambulance and are now receiving attention at the teaching hospital.
Eyewitnesses said the accident happened around 8 p.m. when a driver, allegedly under the influence and engaged in car racing, rammed into the students. The crash also destroyed several shops opposite the campus gate. One of the victims is said to own one of the affected shops.
Prof. Bassey assured that the University would cover the students’ hospital bills and pledged support to rebuild the destroyed shop.
- Unicross Media Team