The family of 21-year-old Moses Mba is consumed by grief and outrage following his untimely death, which they allege resulted from a brutal beating and gunshot wounds inflicted by security personnel attached to the residence of Cross River State Governor, Bassey Otu.
Moses’ mother, Mrs. Victoria Mba, is still reeling from the shock of her son’s passing.
She recounts the events leading up to his tragic demise to the News Agency of Nigeria.
“My son had been passionate about religious work since he was 10 years old,” she said.
“He scored 196 in his last JAMB examination and had a perfect WAEC result. He was preparing to study Business Administration at the University of Calabar.”
The grieving mother alleges that the governor’s aides showed little concern for Moses’ well-being during his hospitalisation.
“Throughout his hospitalisation, security operatives from the governor’s office monitored the hospital. They even demanded copies of all receipts for his treatments, even though the Red Cross covered the expenses. But there was no concern for the boy,” she said.
This alleged lack of empathy and concern for Moses’ welfare has only added to the family’s sense of outrage and betrayal.
Mrs. Mba’s pain is further compounded by the alleged threats made by an aide to the governor’s Chief of Staff, who she claims partially paid the mortuary bill of ₦54,000.
“I want justice for my son, who is still lying in the mortuary,” she pleaded.
In response to the allegations, the Cross River State Government has condemned the beating and shooting of Moses, but denied involvement by the governor’s security aides.
The State Commissioner for Information, Erasmus Ekpang, claimed that Moses visited the governor’s former residence, not his current official residence, and alleged that video evidence showed the deceased throwing stones at a lone security officer on site.
“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 said.
However, the family disputes the claim that Moses was mentally unstable, citing his excellent academic record and his passion for religious work.
“My son was a bright and ambitious young man,” Mrs. Mba said. “He had a promising future ahead of him, and his death is a senseless tragedy.”
The Commissioner of Police has confirmed that the matter has been referred to the Director of Public Prosecutions for legal guidance, stating, “Whatever the DPP advises, we will follow.”
The family is anxiously awaiting the outcome of the investigation, hoping that justice will be served and that those responsible for Moses’ death will be held accountable.