KUNGABOKUN, FCT — Grief and outrage have gripped the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) following the murder of Dr. Ifeanyi Ogbu, a respected veterinary doctor, humanitarian, and former President of the Veterinary Medical Council Association (VMC, FCT Chapter). Dr. Ogbu’s lifeless body was discovered near his residence on Thursday morning, hours after he and three of his young children were abducted in a violent attack on his home, Africa Update reports.
The attackers, identified only as armed men, struck Dr. Ogbu’s residence in Kungabokun, a remote FCT village bordering Niger State, at approximately 11:45 p.m. on Wednesday, October 1, 2025. The perpetrators reportedly gained entry by breaking a window before forcefully seizing the doctor and three of his children, whisking them away to an unknown location. Dr. Ogbu’s wife and their two-week-old baby were tragically left behind.
Children Still Missing; No Communication Received
Immediate search and rescue efforts were launched overnight, involving police operatives from the Byazhin Division, the Anti-Kidnapping Unit, and local vigilantes. However, the search ended in heartbreak on Thursday morning when Dr. Ogbu’s body was found abandoned near the scene of the abduction.
As of the time of this report, the fate of his three young children remains unknown. Authorities have confirmed that there has been no communication or ransom demand received from the kidnappers, intensifying fears within the community.
Loss of a Public Health Advocate
The tragic loss has sent shockwaves across Nigeria’s veterinary and humanitarian circles. Until his untimely death, Dr. Ogbu, a native of Nru Nsukka, Enugu State, was a staff member of The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), leveraging his expertise for regional health initiatives.
He was highly regarded for his advocacy, having recently made a passionate appeal to the Federal Government for the creation of a Federal Ministry of Veterinary Medicine, emphasizing the vital role of the profession in national health security and economic stability. Beyond his professional duties, Dr. Ogbu was the founder of the Dr. Ifeanyi Ogbu Foundation, dedicated to supporting underprivileged children and orphans with access to education and vocational training.
Escalating Insecurity in the Capital
Dr. Ogbu’s murder further highlights the recent, alarming surge in violent crime across Abuja and its satellite towns. This incident comes just days after another tragic loss: Somtochukwu Christelle Maduagwu, a presenter with ARISE News, died in Katampe, Abuja, during a robbery attack. Maduagwu reportedly fell from her third-floor balcony while attempting to escape the robbers—an incident neighbours claim is part of an escalating string of robberies in that district.
Residents and professional bodies are now making an urgent call to the government and security agencies to take immediate and decisive action to stem the tide of insecurity that is rapidly spreading within the nation’s capital. The community mourns the loss of Dr. Ogbu and desperately awaits the safe return of his abducted children.
