A stampede occurred on Saturday at the University of Calabar (Unical) during an examination, resulting in the hospitalization of twenty students at the university’s teaching hospital. The incident took place at an examination hall where students were scheduled to take the General Studies and Communication Skills (GSS) examination, which had been postponed from Friday to Saturday.
The GSS examination was specifically for 100-level students from all faculties of the university. Due to the postponement, the students rushed to secure space in the examination hall, leading to the unfortunate stampede.
The examination, designed to be taken in batches, witnessed students competing for limited available spaces. This incident unfolded as the climax of the university’s second-semester examinations, which commenced on October 16.
Despite the severity of the situation, the university’s management has refrained from providing official comments on the stampede. However, a reliable source confirmed the occurrence of the incident.
The aftermath of the stampede raises concerns about the safety measures in place during examination periods and the need for universities to address overcrowding issues to ensure the well-being of students during academic activities.
