The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has sounded a serious alarm over the persistent and deadly operations of 'one-chance' criminal gangs within the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). This urgent warning comes in the wake of the brutal killings of two women, including a medical professional, in separate incidents suspected to be the handiwork of these notorious criminals.
Two Lives Lost to Notorious Criminal Gangs
In a statement released on 8 January 2026, the national coordinator of HURIWA, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, detailed the grim incidents. The first victim was identified as Chinemerem Pascalina Chuwumeziem, a nurse working at the Federal Medical Centre in Jabi. Her tragic death has prompted strong condemnation from the FCT Council of the National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives.
The second victim was Princess Ochigbo, who was discovered lifeless by the roadside. Evidence from the scene strongly suggests she too fell prey to the same modus operandi used by 'one-chance' hoodlums. These gangs typically pose as commercial vehicle operators or fellow passengers to lure victims into their cars, only to rob, assault, or murder them, often in isolated areas.
A Scathing Indictment of Security and Leadership
HURIWA did not mince words in its reaction, placing the blame squarely on what it termed the "absence of preventive security strategies and competent leadership" in the nation's capital. The group accused political leaders of failing to confront the armed criminality plaguing Abuja, leaving residents dangerously vulnerable.
The rights organization further alleged a "clear absence" of effective preventive measures from the FCT administration to curb the recurring violence perpetrated by 'one-chance' gangs and other armed non-state actors. HURIWA warned that without immediate and decisive intervention, more innocent lives would be lost to this menace.
Calls for Drastic Action and Reform
To address the escalating security and governance crisis, HURIWA made two pivotal demands. First, it called on the Federal Government to appoint a more focused, committed, and non-partisan technocrat to tackle the challenges in the FCT, insisting that the safety of residents must be the top priority for any administrator.
In a more radical proposal, the group urged the President to consider directing that citizens be granted legal permits to bear arms for self-defence. This suggestion was framed as a necessary response to the worsening violence and the apparent failure of state security apparatus to protect citizens in the capital city.
The statement from HURIWA serves as a stark reminder of the growing fear among Abuja residents and the urgent need for a comprehensive security overhaul to restore safety and public confidence in the Federal Capital Territory.
