The mother of 21-year-old Moses Mba, who was allegedly murdered by security operatives attached to Governor Bassey Otu’s residence, has cried out for justice, revealing that her late son was mentally stable before his death.
Mba’s death has sparked outrage in Calabar, Cross River State, with his family claiming that his death was a result of injuries sustained from police brutality.
Moses, who had been preparing to commence studies in Business Administration at the University of Calabar, reportedly sustained severe injuries after an encounter with security personnel on 1 August, according to a News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) report.
According to his family, he had gone to deliver what he described as a “divine message” to the governor but was beaten and shot in the process. He later succumbed to his injuries on 9 August at the Naval Reference Hospital, Calabar.
Recounting the incident, his mother, Mrs Victoria Mba, explained that she was away in Abia State when the news reached her.
“We were away in Abia when this happened. On our return, the Red Cross called to say they had rushed him to the hospital. My son told us he only wanted to see the governor to share a message from God,” she said, describing him as a devout young man with a passion for religious work since childhood.
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Mrs Mba alleged that aides linked to the governor displayed little compassion throughout her son’s hospitalisation.
She claimed security operatives frequently monitored him at the hospital and even demanded receipts for his medical expenses, despite the Red Cross covering the bills.
She further alleged that after his death, part of the N54,000 mortuary fee was paid by Emmanuel Dickson, an aide to the governor’s Chief of Staff, who has since issued threats to the family.
She also criticised attempts by state authorities to access her son’s remains, insisting that the deceased was not mentally unstable as suggested in some quarters.
She revealed that Mba, prior to his death, had good grades in his West African Examinations Council (WAEC) result and scored 196 in the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) examination.
Mrs Mba said her late son was at the peak of gaining admission into a higher institution.
Reacting to the incident, the Cross River State Government distanced the governor’s official security aides from the case but condemned the use of force.
Commissioner for Information, Erasmus Ekpang, said Moses had mistakenly gone to the governor’s former residence where a single security guard was on duty.
According to him, video footage revealed Moses throwing stones at the officer before later apologising.
“He was not mentally stable at the time and even apologised for throwing the stones. Nonetheless, we strongly condemn the incident. No one should be happy about this, regardless of the circumstances,” Ekpang stated.
The state Commissioner of Police confirmed that the matter has been forwarded to the Director of Public Prosecutions for legal advice. “Whatever the DPP advises, we will follow,” he assured.
