CALABAR, Tension has gripped Cross River State following allegations that security personnel attached to Governor Bassey Otu killed a 23-year-old man, Moses Onyekachi Mba, who reportedly went to preach at the Governor’s private residence in Calabar.
The incident, which occurred on August 1, 2025, only came to public attention weeks later when the victim’s mother, Mrs. Victoria Onyekwere Mba, took to social media on August 28 to demand justice for her son.
According to Mrs. Mba, her son had gone to the Governor’s residence to share a vision he claimed to have about the state. Instead, she alleged, he was beaten and shot by security operatives, who later abandoned him without medical attention.
“He was shot around 11 a.m. and left to die until 7 p.m., when the Red Cross intervened and took him to the hospital,” Mrs. Mba lamented in her post. She accused the authorities of shielding those responsible, noting that despite a petition to Zone 6 Police Command, no arrests had been made three weeks after the incident.
Her emotional appeal read in part:
“My son was unarmed. He was not a criminal. He only went to preach, but they shot and abandoned him. I am calling for justice. Please help us, I have lost my first son.”
In response, the Cross River State Government issued a statement on Friday through Commissioner for Information, Erasmus Ekpang, condemning the incident and vowing to ensure accountability.
“The Government of Cross River State condemns in the strongest terms the tragic incident of August 1, 2025, in which one Onyekachi Moses (23 years) lost his life after injuries sustained from the reckless actions of a Police Officer in Calabar,” the statement read.
Governor Otu, according to the release, has directed the immediate arrest and thorough investigation of the officer implicated in the shooting.
“Those entrusted with protecting lives cannot become purveyors of fear and tragedy,” the statement continued, assuring the bereaved family of justice.
The case has sparked widespread outrage, with many Nigerians expressing concern about the culture of impunity among security operatives, particularly those attached to political office holders.
As at press time, the Police Command was yet to confirm any arrests connected to the killing.
