The family of Princess Nwamaka Mediatrix Chigbo, an Abuja-based lawyer, has announced with deep-felt sadness her brutal death at the hands of still-to-be-identified kidnappers in the Nigerian Federal Capital Territory on Monday, 5th January 2026.
According to Maureen Chigbo, Publisher of RealNews and sister of the deceased, Barrister Nwamaka was on the phone with her sister, Anthonia, before her abduction, who briefly interrupted the call to attend to a client. When she reverted, the barrister’s phone was still live, and Anthonia could hear her sister’s distress cry before the phone suddenly went dead and unreachable.
Anthonia alerted her elder sister, Maureen Chigbo, and other family members, who called the lawyer’s number repeatedly to reach her or her abductors to no avail.
When a call finally went through, a male voice rained curses in English and Hausa language, saying: “Thunder fire you there, send three million Naira or else we will kill her.” The captors gave no further details and abruptly terminated subsequent calls.
Barrister Nwamaka’s family later tried to contact the Police Force Public Relations Officer and left a text message on her phone. They were referred to two police complaint numbers.
The family equally sent a distress text and WhatsApp message to the Inspector General of Police (IGP), and also contacted the FCT Police Commissioner, who immediately linked them up to the Commander of the Scorpion Squad, in charge of kidnapping in Abuja.
The Commander later called to inform the family that the police were tracking the kidnappers, who were said to be “in motion and would likely drop the lawyer off once they might have collected the ransom.”
The kidnappers never initiated any calls, and when Nwamaka’s family members reached them through her phone for clarification on how the ransom would be paid, they only heard the lawyer screaming in pain, “I am dying. …save me, please send the money, I am dying,” before the phone finally went dead again.
The family maintained contact with the Police Commander throughout Monday night to follow up on the rescue operation.
At 4 am on Tuesday, 6th January, when Maureen called the Commander, he expressed surprise that the lawyer had not called or returned home. He then promised to escalate the rescue operation.
The Commander later called to inform the family that “a lady had been found in a critical condition” and taken to an Abuja specialist hospital. He requested that Nwamaka’s picture be sent for identification purposes.
Maureen immediately took a flight from Lagos to Abuja and on reaching the hospital, saw her sister’s lifeless body in the mortuary with bruises, swollen eyes and a cracked skull, all signs of a tortured death.
The Chigbo family has met with the Police authorities, who assured them that the case was under investigation and that the culprits would be apprehended.
Nwamaka was an active member and former treasurer of the Nigerian Bar Association, Abuja, member of the International Federation of Women Lawyers, IFWL,
FIDA and Global Association of Female Lawyers, GAFA. She was a former President of Catholic Lawyers Association, Abuja.
An ardent Catholic, Nwamaka authored a book on Infant Jesus, and until death was the vice president of the Infant Jesus Association, member of the Mother of Perpetual Help Catholic Group among other religious groups.
The family expresses its gratitude to the Police for their efforts and cooperation so far, and urges the force to ensure that justice is served in Nwamaka’s case.
The family also wishes to thank Nwamaka’s friends, colleagues and well-wishers for their support and prayers. Her funeral arrangements will be announced as soon as possible.
Nurse Also Killed
Meanwhile, a nurse with the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Jabi, Abuja, Chinemerem Pascalina Chuwumezie, was also murdered on Saturday by suspected “one-chance” criminals after closing from late duty, sparking fresh outrage over Nigeria’s worsening insecurity.
SaharaReporters learnt that Chinemerem, a frontline health worker, was attacked while returning home after work in the Federal Capital Territory.
Reacting to the incident, the Elegant Nurses Forum condemned the murder and the rising wave of insecurity across the country.
In a statement issued on Tuesday and signed by Nurse Thomas Abiodun Olamide, the forum described the killing as a painful and unacceptable loss and accused the government of failing to protect citizens, especially essential workers.
The statement read, “We are deeply saddened and outraged by the brutal murder of Nurse Chinemerem Pascalina Chuwumeziem of the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Jabi, Abuja. She was murdered by suspected “one-chance” criminals while returning home after a late duty on Saturday.
“This is a painful and unacceptable loss. Nurse Chinemerem was a dedicated health worker who spent her life caring for others, only to be failed by a system that could not guarantee her safety.”
The group stressed that the incident was not isolated but part of a broader pattern of insecurity affecting workers nationwide.
“Health workers are compelled to work late hours, night shifts, and emergency duties, yet are left to navigate unsafe roads and transport systems without protection. These deaths are preventable. A responsible government would not allow workers, especially essential workers, to be exposed to such risks daily,” the forum added.
The Elegant Nurses Forum also criticised labour unions and trade union leaders for what it described as disturbing silence in the face of growing attacks on workers.
“Workers are being kidnapped, assaulted, and killed, yet there is no coordinated, firm response that matches the gravity of the situation. Silence in times like this amounts to complicity,” they said.
The forum made several demands, including an immediate and thorough investigation into Chinemerem’s murder and the arrest and prosecution of those responsible.
It also called for government-funded staff shuttle services for workers in major institutions such as hospitals, especially for late-night and early-morning shifts.
“We therefore make the following clear demands: Immediate and thorough investigation into the murder of Nurse Chinemerem Pascalina Chuwumeziem, with the arrest and prosecution of all those responsible.
“Provision of government-funded staff shuttle services in major workplaces, including hospitals, to convey workers safely to their homes or designated safe drop-off points, especially for late-night and early-morning shifts.
“Strengthening of security around health institutions and major worker routes, including visible policing, intelligence-driven patrols, and rapid response units.
“Formal recognition of health workers as high-risk essential workers, with specific safety policies to protect them during and after duty hours,” they said.
According to the statement, “Immediate action by trade unions and labour movements to break their silence, publicly confront government failures on insecurity, and actively defend the lives of workers.
“Accountability from government officials responsible for internal security, with measurable actions rather than empty assurances.
“The life of every Nigerian matters. The life of every Nurse matters. Nurses cannot continue to save lives by day and be abandoned to death by night. Enough is enough.
“The Elegant Nurses Forum stands in solidarity with the family, colleagues, and loved ones of Nurse Chinemerem Pascalina Chuwumeziem. We demand justice, safety, and responsible governance now, not after more lives are lost,” they added.
