The family of Abuja-based lawyer, Nwamaka Chigbo, has shared a heartbreaking account of her final moments before she was allegedly abducted and killed by suspected one-chance criminals in the Federal Capital Territory.
Nwamaka’s body was discovered on January 6, 2026, by the roadside along the Kubwa Expressway. Her handbag was found some distance away from her body, a disturbing detail that closely matches the pattern often associated with one-chance attacks, where victims are robbed, assaulted, and abandoned.
In a statement issued by Dr. Maureen Chigbo, Publisher of Realnews Magazine and elder sister to the deceased, the family said they were thrown into shock and disbelief by the tragic incident. According to the statement, Nwamaka was abducted on Monday, January 5, 2026, while going about her normal activities in Abuja.
The family revealed that moments before her abduction, Nwamaka was on a phone call with her younger sister, Anthonia. The call was briefly interrupted when Anthonia stepped away to attend to a client. When she returned, the line was still connected, and she reportedly heard her sister cry out in distress before the call suddenly went silent.
Alarmed, the family immediately tried reaching Nwamaka, calling her phone repeatedly without success. When a call eventually connected, a male voice reportedly demanded ₦3 million, threatening to kill her if the money was not sent. The caller provided no clear instructions and abruptly ended further communication.
The family said they promptly contacted the FCT Police Command, the Inspector General of Police, and the Commissioner of Police in Abuja, who linked them to the Scorpion Squad handling kidnapping cases. They were later informed that security operatives were tracking the suspects and believed the victim might be released after ransom collection.
Despite continued efforts and communication with the police through the night, the family said the kidnappers never gave clear directions for ransom payment. When calls went through, they could only hear Nwamaka crying and pleading for help before the phone went dead again.
In the early hours of Tuesday, January 6, the family was informed that a woman in critical condition had been found and taken to a hospital. Upon identification, it was confirmed to be Nwamaka, who sadly did not survive.
The family has since met with police authorities, who assured them that investigations are ongoing and that those responsible will be brought to justice.
Nwamaka Chigbo was a respected legal practitioner, a former treasurer of the Nigerian Bar Association (Abuja Branch), and a member of the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA). Her death has sparked renewed concerns about public safety and the persistent threat of one-chance crimes in Abuja.
