Outrage as ‘One-Chance’ Robbers Murder Abuja Nurse Returning from Night Duty; Health Workers Demand Justice
The brutal murder of Nurse Chinemerem Pascalina Chuwumezie, a frontline health worker at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Jabi, has sparked fresh outrage over the escalating “one-chance” robbery epidemic in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Nurse Chinemerem was reportedly attacked and killed on Saturday night while returning home from a late-duty shift. Her death marks another grim entry in a series of violent crimes involving criminals posing as commercial transporters to rob, assault, and murder unsuspecting commuters in the nation’s capital.
A Systemic Failure
Reacting to the tragic incident, the Elegant Nurses Forum issued a scathing statement on Tuesday, condemning the killing and decrying the government’s failure to protect essential workers.
In the statement signed by Nurse Thomas Abiodun Olamide, the forum described Chinemerem as a dedicated professional who fell victim to a system that failed to guarantee her safety.
“We are deeply saddened and outraged by the brutal murder of Nurse Chinemerem Pascalina Chuwumeziem. This is a painful and unacceptable loss,” the statement read. “Nurse Chinemerem was a dedicated health worker who spent her life caring for others, only to be failed by a system that could not guarantee her basic safety.”
The forum highlighted the unique risks faced by health workers, who are frequently required to navigate unsafe roads during late-night and early-morning hours due to the nature of their work.
The group did not mince words regarding the perceived inaction of labor and trade union leaders. They accused the unions of a “disturbing silence” in the face of persistent attacks on workers.
“Workers are being kidnapped, assaulted, and killed, yet there is no coordinated, firm response that matches the gravity of the situation. Silence in times like this amounts to complicity,” the forum stated.
In the wake of the murder, the Elegant Nurses Forum has laid out a series of demands aimed at preventing further loss of life:
An immediate and thorough investigation into the murder, leading to the arrest and prosecution of the culprits.
The provision of government-funded staff shuttles for major institutions, particularly hospitals, to ensure workers are transported safely during late-night and early-morning shifts
Strengthening of security along major worker routes through intelligence-driven patrols and visible policing.
Formal recognition of health workers as high-risk essential workers, with specific safety policies enacted to protect them.
A call for trade unions to break their silence and confront government failures regarding insecurity.
The forum concluded with a poignant reminder to the authorities: “The life of every Nigerian matters. The life of every Nurse matters. Nurses cannot continue to save lives by day and be abandoned to death by night. Enough is enough.”
The FCT Police Command has yet to release a formal statement on the progress of the investigation into Nurse Chinemerem’s death. However, residents continue to express fear as the “one-chance” phenomenon remains an unchecked threat to the safety of those living and working in Abuja.
The Elegant Nurses Forum has extended its solidarity to the family and colleagues of the deceased, vowing to keep up the pressure until justice is served.
