By Tgnews Reporter, Abuja
Renowned veterinary doctor and former chairman of the Nigerian Veterinary Medical Association (NVMA) FCT chapter, Dr. Ifeanyi Ogbu, has been murdered by armed gunmen who abducted him and his three children from their residence in Kubwa.
His body was later discovered dumped by a roadside near Kungabokun, a border village between the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and Niger State, while the children remain missing and in the kidnappers’ custody.
The attack occurred in the early hours, with gunmen storming the family’s home, sparing Dr. Ogbu’s nursing wife and a newborn but forcing him and the three children into captivity.
Friends and colleagues confirmed the tragedy via social media, with one posting a desperate plea: “Dr. Ifeanyi Ogbu… was kidnapped alongside his three children from his home in Kubwa Abuja [and] was found dead. The three children are yet to be released. May God please intervene.”
The veterinary community is reeling, hailing Dr. Ogbu as a dedicated professional who founded the Ifeanyi Ogbu Foundation to support underprivileged children and recently advocated for a Federal Ministry of Veterinary Medicine.
This brazen killing comes just days after the murder of 29-year-old ARISE News anchor and lawyer Somtochukwu Christelle Maduagwu, known as “Sommie,” during an armed robbery at her Katampe residence on September 29. Maduagwu, a vocal advocate for gender-based violence prevention and education reform, died after jumping from the third floor of her apartment in a desperate bid to escape the robbers, who targeted multiple flats in the complex. Police arrived too late to save her, despite alerts, sparking outrage over delayed response times.
President Bola Tinubu has condemned Maduagwu’s death, directing security agencies to expedite investigations and ensure justice. FCT Minister Nyesom Wike echoed the call, vowing full support for apprehending the culprits and labeling the incident “tragic and unacceptable.”
Tributes from figures like former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Labour Party’s Peter Obi highlight the national grief, with many decrying the erosion of safety even in Abuja’s upscale areas.
The Nigerian Police have launched probes into both cases, with the FCT Command deploying tactical units for Dr. Ogbu’s abduction and mobilizing search operations in Kungabokun. Colleagues of Dr. Ogbu mourn him as a “great loss,” underscoring how insecurity continues to ravage families and professionals.
As the search for the missing children intensifies and public fury mounts, residents are demanding urgent reforms to bolster security in the capital, questioning if no place is safe amid a surge in kidnappings, robberies, and killings.
