A tragic road accident has claimed the lives of two graduating students of the University of Calabar (UNICAL) and three other persons while they were travelling to Calabar for the institution’s convocation ceremony.
The victims, identified as Godwin Daniel and Glory Ajor, were among passengers in a Siena bus that departed from Abuochiche in Bekwara Local Government Area of Cross River State before crashing at Biase in the central senatorial district.
The accident reportedly occurred as the students and other passengers were heading to Calabar for the university’s convocation scheduled for Friday and Saturday, during which about 10,000 students are expected to receive degrees, diplomas, and postgraduate certificates.
Sources said the crash claimed five lives in total, including the two students, while several others sustained varying degrees of injuries.
Godwin Daniel, a Civil Engineering graduate, was said to be on his way from his hometown in Bekwara to join fellow graduands for the ceremony. A fellow student, Deborah Daniel, confirmed his death, describing him as a coursemate who was due to graduate alongside others.
“He was my coursemate. He studied Civil Engineering and was supposed to have graduated today, Friday,” she said.
Eyewitness accounts and local sources attributed the crash to overspeeding, which allegedly caused the driver to lose control, leading to a severe impact that left the vehicle badly damaged and some passengers dead on the spot.
The tragic incident has thrown a pall over what was expected to be a joyful celebration for graduating students and their families, turning a moment of achievement into mourning.
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