The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Abuja Branch, and the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) Nigeria, Abuja Branch, have condemned the killing of Princess Mediatrix Chigbo, a lawyer and former Treasurer of the NBA Unity Bar, describing her death as a damning indictment of the persistent insecurity plaguing Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory.
In a joint commitment statement issued at a tribute session held in her honour, the two professional bodies said the violent killing—suspected to have been carried out by “one chance” criminals—goes beyond a personal tragedy and represents a profound failure of public safety in a city meant to be the safest in the country.
“Her death is not merely a personal loss,” the statement read. “It is an indictment of a security failure that continues to endanger ordinary citizens, particularly women, commuters, and the vulnerable.”
Princess Chigbo was a longstanding member of both the NBA Abuja Branch and FIDA Abuja Branch. Her killing has reignited public outrage over the resurgence of “one chance” criminality in Abuja, a menace that has claimed multiple lives and left residents increasingly fearful of routine commutes.
Speaking jointly, NBA Unity Bar Chairman Steve Emelieze and FIDA Abuja Chairperson Chioma Onyenuchaya-Uko vowed that the case would not fade into obscurity.
“This death shall not be reduced to a statistic or a fleeting headline,” the statement declared, stressing that justice must extend beyond arrests to diligent prosecution, conviction and deterrent sentencing.
The organisations confirmed that while the Nigeria Police Force has announced the arrest of suspects linked to the killing, public confidence will only be restored through transparent, time-bound prosecution and accountability.
“We emphasise that public trust in law enforcement and governance is sustained not by arrests alone, but by justice that is seen, felt, and completed,” the statement said.
Beyond the specific case, the NBA and FIDA warned that the killing highlights a broader crisis of insecurity in the FCT, calling for intelligence-led policing, improved urban transport safety, enhanced surveillance, street lighting and rapid-response mechanisms in identified crime hotspots.
They urged the FCT Minister to treat “one chance” criminality as a security emergency requiring coordinated inter-agency action, and called on the National Assembly Committees on the FCT and Security to exercise robust oversight over security operations, funding and performance benchmarks.
The organisations also appealed to the Judiciary to prioritise cases arising from violent crimes of this nature, noting their wider societal impact and the need for swift justice.
As part of concrete follow-up measures, the NBA Abuja Branch and FIDA Abuja Branch announced the formation of a joint monitoring and advocacy committee to track the prosecution of the case and assess the implementation of security reforms aimed at dismantling violent criminal networks operating within the capital.
They reaffirmed their commitment to protecting women, commuters and other vulnerable groups, insisting that public safety is not a privilege but a constitutional obligation of government.
“We commit to memory.
We commit to action.
We commit to accountability,” the statement concluded.
In their final words, the organisations underscored the broader stakes of the tragedy.
“We mourn her.
We honour her.
We owe her—and all residents of the FCT—a safer city, governed by law, vigilance, and accountability.”
