The family of a 50-year-old woman, Mrs Ijeoma Wilson Obote, who was killed by a police officer in Calabar on March 23, 2025, has accused the authorities of neglect and abandonment in the aftermath of the incident.

Mrs Obote was allegedly shot near the Atakpa Police Division by Inspector Bassey Effiong, a serving officer who was reportedly involved in a dispute with his Divisional Police Officer (DPO) at the time. The deceased, a hairstylist at Watt Shopping Centre, was said to have been caught in the crossfire while returning from the market.

Her children, Promise and Miracle Obote, told The Guardian in Calabar that since the incident, their mother’s body has remained in the morgue, with no support from the police or government.

Promise said, “The Deputy Governor, Chief of Staff, Commissioner of Police, and others came to our house shortly after the incident, but nothing has happened since then.”

Miracle confirmed that the family received N80,000 from a local House of Assembly member and N50,000 from the then Assistant Inspector General (AIG) of Zone 6 to cover the cost of depositing the corpse in the mortuary. No further assistance has come, she said.

The family also challenged claims that the officer was mentally ill, stating that during a police interview, Inspector Effiong admitted to having a financial disagreement with his DPO over the sharing of N20 million recovered during a previous operation. He had reportedly received N500,000 and demanded a larger share, which allegedly triggered the confrontation.

Former Cross River State Commissioner of Police, Olusegun Omosanyin, said the incident occurred before he assumed office. He confirmed that the officer had been dismissed, charged to court, and remanded at the Calabar Correctional Centre. He also disclosed that the officer’s wife, who allegedly concealed his mental health condition, had been demoted. According to him, the police had written to the state government requesting support for the family but had yet to receive a response.

When contacted, Police Public Relations Officer, SP Irene Ugbo, declined to comment, stating only that efforts were being made to bury the deceased.