Victoria Mba, a resident of Cross River State, has accused security operatives attached to the residence of Governor Bassey Otu of beating and shooting her 21-year-old son, Moses Mba, resulting in his death. According to Victoria, the incident happened on August 1, 2025, when Moses insisted on seeing the governor to deliver what he described as a message from God. He was resisted, beaten, and shot by the security operatives, and later died on August 9 at the Naval Reference Hospital in Calabar from his injuries.
Victoria recounted that she and her husband were away when the incident occurred and were later informed by the Red Cross Society, which had rushed Moses to the hospital. She alleged that security operatives from the governor's office closely monitored her son's hospital stay and made demands for treatment receipts, despite the Red Cross covering the medical expenses. She also claimed that an aide to the governor’s Chief of Staff partially paid the mortuary bill but has since threatened the family, discouraging them from seeking justice.
The state Commissioner for Information, Erasmus Ekpang, responded by stating that the incident occurred at the governor’s former residence, not his official residence. He also described Moses as having mental health challenges and alleged that Moses threw stones at the lone security officer present, providing video evidence to substantiate this. Despite this, Ekpang condemned the beating and shooting, stating no one should be happy about the incident regardless of the circumstances. The matter has been referred to the Director of Public Prosecutions for further legal action.
The tragic incident has sparked public outcry and calls for justice, as Moses's family mourns the loss of a young man described as passionate about his faith and education, with plans to study Business Administration at the University of Calabar.