Students of the University of Calabar (UNICAL) on Monday carried placards protesting against neglect of their welfare by the authorities of the university.

The protest, which began at about 5.30 a.m., created panic as workers and traders got stranded at roads linking the university, including Etta Agbor, IBB Way and Mary Slessor Road.

The placards read: “VC, give us water and light, students cannot study without light and water, electricity and water is our right,’’ among others.

One of the students, Mr Emeka Ebere, of the Physics Department, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the students had been staying without light and water in hostels for more than three weeks.

Ebere added that the school authorities were doing nothing about the plight of students.

“Rats come to eat our legs when we sleep because everywhere is bushy and there is no light for more than three weeks now.

“Again, we have not had water for months now and students have to go long distances into the town to fetch water.”

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