“I Was Shot by a Police Officer – Now I Live in Pain Every Day” — Calabar Survivor Speaks Out

In what can only be described as a harrowing tale of survival and government neglect, a father of two, Mr. Charles Mkpang, is living each day in pain—after being shot by a police officer in Calabar, Cross River State.

According to a NewsVista reporter, Mr. Mkpang is the only survivor out of four people who were gunned down on March 23, 2025, by Inspector Effiong Bassey, a police officer attached to Atakpa Divisional Police Station, near Watt Market. While three others lost their lives, Mr. Mkpang was left with severe injuries that have completely changed his life.

“I was not a criminal. I didn’t do anything wrong,” he said. “Yet, I was shot and left to suffer.”

A Bullet That Changed Everything

That fateful day, Mr. Mkpang says, will haunt him forever. He recalls how Inspector Bassey, reportedly suffering from mental instability, opened fire on innocent civilians without provocation. The bullet tore through Mr. Mkpang’s body, damaging his nerves and bones and leaving him partially paralyzed.

“I can’t lift my left hand or leg. I move slowly now. My body is in constant pain,” he told journalists. “I have a big hole in my mouth. Whenever I eat or drink, water leaks out of my nose.”

His daily life is now filled with discomfort, disability, and dependency.

Donations That Can’t Cover the Pain

Since the incident, Mr. Mkpang has received some financial support:

• ₦400,000 from the Cross River State Governor’s wife

• ₦500,000 from social activist VeryDarkMan

• ₦50,000 and then ₦100,000 from an Assistant Inspector General of Police

• ₦50,000 from a woman who identified herself as a police officer

In total, he has received ₦1.1 million. But his treatment costs much more. One of the medications he uses, he says, costs ₦42,000 and lasts only a few days. At one point, he paid ₦18,000 daily for weeks while undergoing treatment at a stroke rehabilitation center.

Despite everything, he still needs another surgery, which he simply cannot afford.

A Cry for Help That No One Is Answering

What’s most painful, Mr. Mkpang says, is the silence from the government. He claims that all efforts by the police to reach the Cross River State Government have failed. No concrete support has come his way—no rehabilitation, no compensation, no justice.

“I have two kids to feed. I can’t work. I can’t walk properly. I’m living on the mercy of people,” he cried.

Nigerians Are Asking Questions

The story has triggered outrage online. Many Nigerians are wondering:

• Why hasn’t the state government taken full responsibility?

• Why hasn’t the Nigeria Police Force covered his medical bills in full?

• What punishment has been given to Inspector Bassey—the officer who fired the shots?

Some have described the incident as a national disgrace. “If a man can be shot in a police station by a serving officer and be abandoned, what hope is there for the rest of us?” one user asked.

Will This Be Another Forgotten Case?

Mr. Mkpang’s life was turned upside down by a system that was supposed to protect him. Now he’s battling physical pain, financial hardship, and emotional trauma—alone.

Should he be left to suffer without help?

If you believe survivors like Mr. Mkpang deserve justice and proper care, don’t let this story die. Share it. Talk about it. Demand action.

Do You Think the Government Should Help?

Should the government take full responsibility for Mr. Mkpang’s treatment, recovery, and future?

Drop your thoughts in the comments below. Let your voice be heard.

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