Mother rejects N5m gift, demands justice over son’s death near gov’s residence

Victoria Mba, mother of 22-year-old Moses Mba, says she rejected a N5 million condolence offer after her son was allegedly shot by police officers attached to the residence of Cross River State Governor, Bassey Otu.

Moses, her first son, was shot on August 1 in Calabar after he attempted to see the governor, claiming he had a message from God.

According to his mother, security operatives accosted him at the gate, assaulted him, and shot him in the leg.

He later died on August 9 at the Naval Reference Hospital.

Speaking on Thursday, Mba said government representatives visited her home with N5 million, which she turned down.

“They brought N5m.

“We rejected it.

“Is that the value of my son’s life? They called it a condolence visit, but condolence is not done with money.

“I want justice, not hush money,” she said.

She further accused security operatives of attempting to cover up the killing, alleging that plainclothes officers were stationed at her son’s ward until his death.

“They think they can silence me with money. My son was my pride.

“I will not be silenced,” she added, demanding the arrest of the officers involved.

Mba revealed that she and her husband were in Abia State when the incident occurred and only learnt of it from a Red Cross official who informed them their son had been rushed to hospital.

The Cross River State government has denied the allegation. Commissioner for Information, Erasmus Ekpang, said the incident did not occur at the governor’s official residence but at his former house.

He also claimed Moses had mental health issues and was shot after throwing stones at a police officer.