The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Calabar Branch, has demanded a transparent and public investigation into the alleged extrajudicial killing of 22-year-old Moses Mba by policemen stationed at the former residence of Cross River State Governor Bassey Otu.

The call, outlined in a letter dated September 8, 2025, addressed to the state’s Commissioner of Police, follows the incident on August 1, 2025, in the State Housing area, where Mba, a young preacher, was shot while seeking to address the governor. The youth succumbed to injuries on August 9 at a hospital.

The killing ignited outrage among residents and sparked widespread discussion on social media, with Mba’s family pressing for justice. The NBA, led by Chairman Enomes Amatey, expressed deep concern, noting, “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 association highlighted the irony of the police, tasked with safeguarding lives, being implicated, and condemned attempts to label Mba as mentally ill as an affront to his dignity and a possible cover-up.

In its demands, the NBA called for an immediate, thorough, and independent investigation, alongside protection for Mba’s mother, Victoria Mba, amid growing public distrust in the police.