Tragedy struck in Abuja on Friday night when unidentified gunmen killed a renowned veterinary doctor, Dr. Ifeanyi Ogbu and abducted his three children during an attack on his residence in the Kubwa area of the Federal Capital Territory.
Dr. Ogbu, a native of Iheagu, Nru in Nsukka Local Government Area of Enugu State, was reportedly taken alongside his children by the assailants, who later shot him dead and dumped his body by the roadside.
His wife, who is said to be nursing a baby, was the only one spared.
A source familiar with the incident said, “They came late at night and took him with his three children. Only his wife and the baby were left behind. No one knows exactly what happened afterward, but his body was later found lifeless by the roadside. We can’t yet say if it was a kidnapping attempt gone wrong or an assassination.”
Confirming the incident, one of his colleagues, Andrew Gabriel Ikechukwu, wrote on Facebook:
“Dr. Ifeanyi Ogbu, immediate past chairman of the Nigerian Veterinary Medical Association (NVMA), FCT chapter, who was kidnapped with his three children, has been found dead. The children are still missing. May God intervene.”
The news of his death has triggered widespread grief within the veterinary community and beyond. A fellow veterinarian, in a post titled “A Great Loss,” described him as a patriotic Nigerian and an exemplary professional.
“Nigeria has failed my dear friend, Ifeanyi. His death is heartbreaking and has thrown the veterinary family into deep mourning. He was diligent, compassionate, and devoted to his work and family. This tragedy is another painful reminder of the insecurity tormenting our nation,” she wrote.
Colleagues, friends, and members of the public have flooded social media with tributes, describing Dr. Ogbu as dedicated, selfless, and deeply humane. Many also condemned the senseless killing, calling it another indication of the growing wave of violent crime in the nation’s capital.
As of the time of this report, the police had yet to make an official statement or provide updates on the fate of the abducted children.
The murder comes just days after the killing of Arise News anchor, Somtochukwu Christelle Maduagwu, popularly known as Sommie, in Abuja, an incident that has further heightened fears over rising insecurity in the city.
