Abuja was thrown into mourning on Friday following the gruesome murder of a renowned veterinary doctor and former chairman of the Nigerian Veterinary Medical Association (NVMA), FCT chapter, Dr. Ifeanyi Ogbu.

Armed men were said to have stormed Ogbu’s residence in Kubwa, abducting him alongside his three children. His lifeless body was later discovered by the roadside, while his children remain missing as of press time.

A close associate of the deceased, Andrew Gabriel Ikechukwu, confirmed the tragic incident in a Facebook post.

 “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. The three children are yet to be released. May God please intervene.”

Colleagues and friends have described Ogbu as a dedicated professional whose death is a “huge loss” to the veterinary community. He leaves behind a nursing wife and grieving relatives.

The killing comes just days after the shocking death of 29-year-old Arise TV journalist, Somtochukwu Maduagwu, who was murdered during a robbery at her Katampe residence in Abuja. Maduagwu, a lawyer-turned-broadcaster, was widely known for her advocacy on gender-based violence and education reform.

Her death sparked nationwide outrage, with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu directing security agencies to launch a thorough investigation.

The back-to-back killings have triggered fresh concerns about rising insecurity in the nation’s capital, which has recently witnessed a surge in violent crimes, including kidnappings and home invasions.

Authorities are yet to officially comment on Dr. Ogbu’s murder, but colleagues and residents are calling for urgent action to curb the spate of insecurity threatening Abuja’s status as the country’s seat of power.