Two students of the University of Calabar who were on their way to attend the institution’s convocation ceremony have lost their lives in a road accident in Cross River State, casting a shadow over what should have been one of the most celebrated moments of their lives.
The deceased, identified as Gloria Ajor and Godwin Benjamin, were among passengers aboard a Sienna bus travelling from Bekwarra Local Government Area to Calabar when the crash occurred on Thursday night, April 9, 2026. The timing made the tragedy particularly painful, as the two had been heading to Calabar specifically to participate in UNICAL’s 38th convocation ceremony, which was held the following day on April 10.
CrossRiverWatch, which first reported the incident, confirmed the identities of the two graduating students among the victims. A Facebook post by Odey Matthias Ojeka also indicated that several other passengers lost their lives in the crash, while a number of survivors sustained injuries of varying degrees.
Witnesses at the scene said good Samaritans responded quickly, helping to evacuate those who survived to nearby medical facilities before emergency responders arrived.
Gloria Ajor was laid to rest on Saturday, April 11, two days after the accident and just one day after the convocation ceremony she never got to attend.
The cause of the crash has not been officially confirmed at the time of this report.
