The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has condemned the killing of a nurse and a lawyer in separate “one chance” criminal operations in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), describing the incidents as a stark indictment of a growing security breakdown in the seat of government.
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In a statement on Sunday, NBA President Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN, said the FCT must not become a fertile ground for “one chance” murders, calling on security agencies to treat the situation as an emergency.
The victims, Ms. Chinemerem Pascalina Chuwumeziem, a nurse, and Princess Chigbo Mediatrix, a lawyer and former Treasurer of the Nigerian Bar Association Abuja Branch, lost their lives after falling victim to the deadly criminal enterprise. Their bodies were later discovered in different locations across the city.
“These were not faceless victims. They were professionals, contributors to society, and ordinary citizens whose only intention was to return safely from their daily engagements. Their deaths underscore a frightening reality that insecurity is once again tightening its grip on the nation’s capital,” Osigwe stated.
The NBA President said the murder of Princess Chigbo Mediatrix was deeply personal to the legal profession.
“She was one of us. She served the NBA Abuja Branch with commitment, and I knew her personally. Her dedication to the profession and her sense of service were remarkable. Her death is therefore not only a professional loss but a painful personal blow, and a stark reminder that lawyers, like all Nigerians, remain dangerously exposed in an environment where criminals act with impunity and citizens move in fear,” he said.
Osigwe condemned the killings in the strongest terms, noting that criminal gangs masquerading as commercial transport operators had turned daily commuting into a deadly gamble.
“This situation is intolerable in any society that claims to be governed by law,” he stated.
The NBA called on the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, the Nigeria Police Force, and all other relevant security agencies to treat the situation as a security emergency.
“Immediate, visible, and coordinated action is required to dismantle these criminal networks. Intelligence gathering, surveillance, policing of transport corridors, and targeted operations against known ‘one chance’ syndicates must be intensified without delay,” the statement read.
The association further demanded thorough, transparent, and time-bound investigations into the killings.
“Those responsible, whether as direct perpetrators, collaborators, or enablers, must be identified, arrested, and prosecuted. Justice must not only be promised. It must be delivered. Anything short of this will deepen public fear and embolden criminal elements,” Osigwe warned.
He emphasised that the protection of life is the first duty of the state, adding that citizens should not have to choose between earning a living and staying alive.
“The Federal Capital Territory must not become a hunting ground where criminals prey on the vulnerable while the law appears distant or reactive,” he stated.
The NBA extended condolences to the families of the victims, the healthcare community, the NBA Abuja Branch, the wider legal profession, and all Nigerians who now move through Abuja with growing anxiety.
“Their deaths must not fade into statistics or headlines that disappear with the news cycle. They must mark a turning point,” Osigwe concluded.
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