Former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has called on the Federal Government and security agencies to urgently address Nigeria’s worsening insecurity following the abduction and killing of Abuja-based lawyer, Princess Nwamaka Mediatrix Chigbo.
Obi made the call after paying a condolence visit in Abuja to Maureen Chigbo, publisher of Realnews Online Magazine and immediate past president of the Guild of Corporate Online Publishers (GOCOP), who lost her elder sister in the incident.
Princess Chigbo, a practising lawyer, was abducted on Monday, January 6, 2026, after attending evening Mass in Abuja. She had returned to the Federal Capital Territory from the Christmas holidays to attend a court case. She was reportedly attacked while on her way home and later murdered, in what is suspected to be a “one-chance” criminal operation.
Describing the incident as deeply painful and unacceptable, Obi said the killing highlights the alarming level of insecurity confronting Nigerians, including residents of the nation’s capital.
“It deeply pains me to write this due to the circumstances surrounding Princess Nwamaka’s death,” Obi said. “She was a dedicated professional and a patriotic Nigerian committed to building a better society, yet she became a victim of insecurity.”
He urged the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies to ensure that those responsible for the crime are swiftly apprehended and prosecuted, stressing that justice must be served to honour the memory of the deceased and restore public confidence.
Obi said the killing should serve as a wake-up call for government, insisting that the protection of lives and property must take precedence over political considerations.
“This is yet another wake-up call to prioritise the safety of Nigerians above politics and propaganda,” he said. “Ensuring the security of citizens is the primary responsibility of any government, and it is achievable.”
The incident has renewed public concern over the resurgence of “one-chance” crimes in Abuja, where unsuspecting commuters are lured into vehicles and subjected to robbery, abduction and, in some cases, murder.
Residents and civil society groups have repeatedly called for improved policing, intelligence gathering and public awareness to curb the trend, particularly in the Federal Capital Territory.
As condolences continue to pour in from colleagues, media professionals and members of the legal community, Obi expressed sympathy with the Chigbo family and reaffirmed his belief in the possibility of meaningful national renewal.
“Surely, a new Nigeria is possible,” he said.
Peter Obi Urges Government Action After ‘One-Chance’ Killing of Abuja Lawyer
