The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has called on Nyesom Wike, minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), to address the recent rise in “one chance” robberies in Abuja, describing the situation as a security emergency.
The appeal follows the deaths of Chinemerem Chuwumeziem, a nurse at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) Jabi, and Princess Chigbo, a lawyer and former treasurer of the NBA Abuja branch. Both were killed on the same day by suspected “one chance” robbers, with their bodies found at separate locations in the city.
In a statement issued on Thursday in Abuja, the NBA described the attacks as a return of violent criminal operations in the FCT.
Read also: Abuja “one chance” robbers and growing security concerns
“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,” the statement read.
Olumide Osigwe, NBA President said the killings show a pattern of criminals posing as commercial transport operators, making commuting a serious risk.
He called Chigbo’s death a “personal loss” to the legal profession, noting her service to the Abuja branch of the NBA.
“Her death is not only a professional loss but also a reminder that lawyers, like all Nigerians, remain exposed in an environment where criminals act with impunity,” Osigwe said.
The NBA warned that the attacks indicate a decline in public safety in the capital. “When citizens cannot commute safely and criminals operate unchecked in the seat of government, the foundations of social order are threatened,” he said.
The association urged Minister Wike, the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), and other security agencies to take immediate and coordinated action to dismantle “one chance” syndicates in Abuja. It called for intelligence gathering, increased surveillance, policing of transport corridors, and targeted operations against known criminal gangs.
Osigwe also demanded thorough, transparent, and time-bound investigations into the killings of Chuwumeziem and Chigbo, insisting that those responsible be identified, arrested, and prosecuted.
“Justice must not only be promised. It must be delivered. The protection of life is the first duty of the state. Citizens should not have to choose between earning a living and staying alive,” he said.
The NBA extended its condolences to the families of the victims, the healthcare community, the Abuja branch of the NBA, and all Nigerians navigating the city with concern. “Their deaths must not fade into statistics or headlines. They must mark a turning point,” Osigwe said.
