The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Calabar Branch, has demanded a transparent investigation into the alleged killing of 22-year-old preacher, Moses Mba, by policemen guarding the former residence of Governor Bassey Otu.
Mba was reportedly shot on August 1, 2025, when he asked to preach to the governor at the State Housing area of Calabar. He battled for life in hospital but died on August 9.
His death stirred anger across Calabar. On social media, many condemned the shooting as another dark mark against the police. The family is now calling for justice.
In a September 8 letter to the Cross River State Commissioner of Police, the NBA described the case as deeply disturbing. The letter, signed by Chairman Enomes Amatey, stated: “The NBA Calabar Branch, committed to its core mandate of upholding the rule of law, protecting human rights, and ensuring justice, is deeply troubled by the reported circumstances surrounding this incident.”
The lawyers said that they can’t believe that officers meant to protect citizens had turned their weapons on an unarmed preacher.
“More worrisome is the fact that the Nigeria Police Force, which is saddled with the responsibility of protecting lives and property of Nigerians, is now found at the ugly end of the incident,” the letter read.
The association also condemned what it described as a plot to tarnish the young man’s memory.
“The association condemned alleged attempts to label the deceased as mentally ill, describing such moves as an affront to his dignity and an apparent effort to subvert the truth and exculpate the officers responsible.”
The Calabar NBA said Mba’s killing had eroded public trust in the police. It demanded a swift, independent probe to ensure accountability. It also asked for protection for his mother, Victoria Mba, who has continued to speak out despite grief.
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