Residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, are in shock following the killing of a respected veterinary doctor, Dr. Ifeanyi Ogbu, by unknown gunmen suspected to be kidnappers. The assailants also abducted his three children, who remain missing as of press time.
Dr. Ogbu, a former Chairman of the Nigerian Veterinary Medical Association (NVMA), FCT Chapter, was attacked at his residence along the Kubwa-Kaduna Road in the Kubwa area of Abuja on Friday night.
According to reports, the armed men stormed his home, kidnapped him and his children, and later dumped his lifeless body by the roadside. The motive behind the killing remains unclear, but it is widely believed to be linked to a kidnapping attempt gone wrong.
The news of his death was first confirmed by a Facebook user, Andrew Gabriel Ikechukwu, who shared the tragic development online.
“Dr. Ifeanyi Ogbu, the immediate past chairman of the NVMA FCT chapter, who was kidnapped alongside his three children from his home in Kubwa Abuja, was found dead,” he wrote. “The three children are yet to be released. May God please intervene.”
Dr. Ogbu was described by colleagues and friends as a devoted professional who served the veterinary field with passion and integrity. His sudden death has left the community heartbroken.
The late doctor is survived by a nursing wife and grieving relatives who are currently in distress over the fate of his kidnapped children.
Colleagues at the NVMA expressed sadness over the incident, calling it a senseless act of violence and a great loss to the veterinary profession in Nigeria. Many described him as a gentle, hardworking man who was committed to public service.
This tragic event has added to the growing security concerns in Abuja and its environs. Just last week, Somtochukwu Maduagwu, a journalist with Arise TV, was killed during a robbery in the Katampe area of the capital city.
The rising wave of criminal activities in Abuja has left many residents worried and calling for urgent government action. Kidnappings and armed robberies, which were once more common in outer states, appear to be creeping into the heart of the nation’s capital.
As of the time of filing this report, the police have not released any official statement regarding Dr. Ogbu’s murder or the ongoing efforts to rescue his abducted children.
