A prominent veterinary doctor and former chairman of the Nigerian Veterinary Medical Association (NVMA) FCT chapter, Dr. Ifeanyi Ogbu, has been killed by gunmen in Abuja.
According to eyewitness accounts, the attackers invaded his home in Kubwa, abducting him and his three children. His lifeless body was later discovered by the roadside, while the children remain in captivity.
The devastating news was shared by Andrew Gabriel Ikechukwu on Facebook, who confirmed that Dr. Ogbu was kidnapped with his children but only the doctor’s body has been recovered. “The three children are still with the kidnappers. May God intervene,” he wrote.
The incident has plunged both the veterinary community and the wider public into mourning. Colleagues described him as a committed professional and lamented his death as a reflection of Nigeria’s deepening insecurity. “Nigeria just happened to my age-long friend, Ifeanyi… his untimely death is a painful reminder of the insecurity tearing families apart,” one friend wrote in a tribute titled A Great Loss.
This tragedy comes shortly after the killing of Somtochukwu Maduagwu, a 29-year-old Arise TV anchor and lawyer, who was murdered during a robbery at her Katampe residence in Abuja. Known for her advocacy on gender issues and education reform, Maduagwu’s death has also sparked widespread outrage.
President Bola Tinubu has reacted to Maduagwu’s killing, directing security agencies to conduct swift investigations and bring the perpetrators to justice. The police have reportedly opened inquiries into both murders, though official statements are yet to be released.
The back-to-back killings of Dr. Ogbu and Maduagwu have intensified public fears about rising insecurity in the Federal Capital Territory. Many Nigerians are demanding urgent reforms in security operations to prevent further tragedies.
Tributes continue to pour in for both victims, with friends, colleagues, and citizens describing them as vibrant and dedicated individuals whose lives were cut short. Their deaths, many believe, underscore the urgent need for stronger protections for residents in Nigeria’s capital city.
