By Frank Ulom
Calabar (Converseer) – A Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) officer, Christopher Ashibi, has been allegedly killed by the convoy of Governor Bassey Otu in Calabar, Cross River State.
Converseer gathered that Ashibi was hit by the last vehicle from the Governor’s convoy along the Murtala Mohammed Highway, on Saturday, April 11, 2026.
Ashibi who hails from Bendi II in Obanliku Local Government Area of the state, is survived by his wife and four children. He is also the immediate younger brother of the APC Chapter Chairman of Obanliku.
Sources said the vehicle did not stop after hitting Ashibi as he was left to struggle to death on the Highway.
An eyewitness, Pearl-Bumi Patrick Etim, said, “The minibus I was in was almost hit before they ended up hitting the man.”
A neighbour, Shalom Akonye, who also gave an account of what happened, said, “To think that this guy’s landlady came to buy eggs from me yesterday and gisted me about how he lost his tenant who’s a Civil Defence officer to the cold hands of death on the Highway… She said that he was left to struggle to death after the hit and run, a good Samaritan had to take the deceased’s SIM card from his phone as he had a password on, and call them to come over.”
A family member, Francis Unazi, said, it’s “It’s a very big shock to me, I love your lifestyle right from time, good people don’t last. Rest in peace, uncle.”
Some residents have shared their experiences with governors’ convoys in the state.
“I nearly got hit by these governor escorts at RCC Roundabout (Calabar-Calabar). I was about to turn the roundabout to Ikot Ishie and didn’t know that the governor was approaching. The escorts drove directly to my car, hit the car body and shattered my mirrors. The average Nigerian is worse than the politicians that we castigate,” Usoro Nkereuwem said.
Another victim of the reckless driving by Governor convoys, Blossom Ejah, narrated, “I just wonder about the kind of country we are in. Just today, a convoy almost hit me at the State Housing Estate. I was just by my car when I saw the convoy, I was waiting for them to pass so I could get into my car and go my way. Maybe I am not allowed to stand by my car since a politician’s convoy was passing by hence the overzealous policemen almost hit me, but God saved me. To think that we actually voted these persons into office just to put us in harm’s way, it’s terrible.”
Joycee Lawrence who also narrated her ordeal, said, “The way these people drive so carelessly on high speed without thinking of other people’s lives in the name of governor convoy is alarming, they almost badged on a minibus I entered last week – like everybody insight the bus shouted ‘Jesus’ at same time with fear, and they don’t even care.”
Neighbours and former neighbours described Ashibi as a nice and quiet person.
“He was my neighbour. A very quiet man. The news of his death shook our neighbourhood last night. May his soul rest in peace. The governor should help the wife because she is actually jobless and Mr Chris was everything to her and her children,” Geraldine Onoh Manyi said.
A former neighbour, Archibong Aniefiok, said: “Very quiet and friendly man. He was my neighbour at Federal Housing Estate before he parked out. He minds his business and always on his lane. This is sad, really sad. May his gentle soul rest in peace.”
Many citizens question the reckless driving and overspeeding by government officials’ convoys. “When you see them rushing on a convoy, you just ask where they are rushing to,” Eteng Ubi said.
Okwuomo Benjamin also said, “Sometimes I ask myself if the speed is necessary especially on a busy road, where is the governor running to and who’s chasing him. Truly, it makes no sense the way they speed. Those days, we do see Fashola in a hold up, even as a governor. That’s what it should be, but here, you see the governor and his boys beating the traffic light. Now because of their reckless driving, a life is lost.”
Another, Orlando D’Great, queried, “Till tomorrow, nobody has been able to explain why Governor’s convoys are always on speed even as narrow as roads in Calabar are.”
Omehn Henry, on his part, urged the Governor to caution his drivers. “The governor really needs to caution his drivers, we don’t have good roads in Calabar to be running on that level of high speed, our roads are not only bad but small,” he noted.
Questions are being asked about the welfare of the deceased’s family, henceforth. “Who is going to take care of his family now?” Lovely Edwin asked.
Converseer reports that Ashibi is the second NSCDC official to die in a gruesome manner in less than two months. The other was ASC Ogbodo Ene Victoria, who died during a show of force parade in Abuja.
More details to follow as we reach out to the authorities in the state…
