Kidnappers tortured my sister to death in Abuja, broke her skull – Family of deceased lawyer speaks out
The family of an Abuja-based legal practitioner, Princess Nwamaka Mediatrix Chigbo, who was recently found dead in the Central Business District of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), have narrated how she was tortured to death by still-to-be-identified kidnappers.
Neptune Prime reports that the deceased, who was the younger sister of Maureen Chigbo, the immediate past President of the Guild of Corporate Online Publishers (GOCOP), was found on one of the busy streets in Abuja’s Central Business District.
Maureen Chigbo, in a statement on behalf of the family, confirmed the incident, saying that it occurred on Monday, 5th January 2026.
READ ALSO: NBA calls on Wike to end ‘one chance’ killings in Abuja
She said that shortly before her abduction, Barrister Nwamaka was on the phone with her sister, Anthonia, who briefly interrupted the call to attend to a client.
When she reverted, the barrister’s phone was still live, and Anthonia could hear her sister’s distress cry before the phone suddenly went dead and unreachable.
She said that Anthonia alerted her and other family members, who called the lawyer’s number repeatedly to reach her or her abductors to no avail.
“When a call finally went through, a male voice rained curses in English and Hausa language, saying:
“Thunder fire you there, send three million Naira or else we will kill her.”
She said that the captors did not give further details even as he abruptly terminated subsequent calls.
READ ALSO: Ex-GOCOP president’s sister found dead on Abuja street
“Barrister Nwamaka’s family later tried to contact the Police Force Public Relations Officer and left a text message on her phone. They were referred to two police complaint numbers.
“The family equally sent a distress text and WhatsApp message to the Inspector General of Police (IGP), and also contacted the FCT Police Commissioner, who immediately linked them up to the Commander of the Scorpion Squad, in charge of kidnapping in Abuja.
“The commander later called to inform the family that the police were tracking the kidnappers, who were said to be “in motion and would likely drop the lawyer off once they had collected the ransom.”
The statement said that the kidnappers never initiated any calls, and that when Nwamaka’s family members reached them through her phone for clarification on how the ransom would be paid, they only heard the lawyer screaming in pain: “I am dying. …save me, please send the money, I am dying.”
The statement said that after such a pronouncement from the lawyer, the phone finally went dead.
“The family maintained contact with the Police Commander throughout Monday night to follow up on the rescue operation.
“At 4 am on Tuesday, 6th January, when Maureen called the Commander, he expressed surprise that the lawyer had not called or returned home. He then promised to escalate the rescue operation.
“The commander later called to inform the family that “a lady had been found in a critical condition” and taken to an Abuja specialist hospital.“
He requested that Nwamaka’s picture be sent for identification purposes.”
Maureen said that she immediately took a flight from Lagos to Abuja and on reaching the hospital, saw her sister’s lifeless body in the mortuary with bruises, swollen eyes and a cracked skull, all signs of a tortured death.
“The Chigbo family has met with the Police authorities, who assured them that the case was under investigation and that the culprits would be apprehended.”
The statement said that lawyer Nwamaka was an active member and former treasurer of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Abuja, a member of the International Federation of Women Lawyers (IFWL),
FIDA and the Global Association of Female Lawyers (GAFA).
She was a former President of the Catholic Lawyers Association, Abuja.
As an ardent Catholic, Nwamaka authored a book on Infant Jesus, and until death, was the vice president of the Infant Jesus Association, a member of the Mother of Perpetual Help Catholic Group, among other religious groups.
READ ALSO: DSS arrests doctor allegedly supplying drugs to kidnappers
The family expresses gratitude to the Police for their efforts and cooperation so far, and urges the force to ensure that justice is served in Nwamaka’s case.
“The family also wishes to thank Nwamaka’s friends, colleagues and well-wishers for their support and prayers.
“Her funeral arrangements will be announced as soon as possible,” the statement read.
Follow the Neptune Prime channel on WhatsApp:
Do you have breaking news, interview request, opinion, suggestion, or want your event covered? Email us at neptuneprime2233@gmail.com
