Pat Stevens/
A nurse with the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) Abuja, Chinemerem Pascalina Chuwumeziem, who spent her final hours caring for patients and saving lives, has been brutally killed by suspected ‘one chance’ robbery syndicate while returning home from work, with her lifeless body later found dumped by the roadside in the Federal Capital Territory.
The tragedy unfolded shortly after she closed from her afternoon duty on January 3, boarded a vehicle in the hope of getting home safely, and vanished without a trace.
By the morning of January 4, her lifeless body had been discovered abandoned by the roadside, bringing a devastating end to a journey that should have taken her home to rest after a day of service.
Until her death, Chuwumeziem was an active staff member of the Federal Medical Centre, Abuja, where colleagues said she was committed, compassionate and dedicated to her duties.
The killing has triggered outrage within the nursing profession, with the National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives (NANNM) FCT Council, condemning the act as wicked, unjust and a direct assault on healthcare workers and humanity at large.
In a statement signed by its Chairman, Comrade Jama D. Medan, the association said the nurse had spent her last day rendering selfless service to humanity before falling victim to violent criminals while commuting home.
“This wicked and senseless act is not only an attack on the nursing profession but also an assault on healthcare workers and humanity at large,” the statement said.
NANNM called on the Nigeria Police Force, the Department of State Services and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps to immediately conduct a thorough, transparent and professional investigation into the circumstances surrounding her death and ensure that the perpetrators are identified and brought to justice without delay.
The association warned that repeated attacks on nurses have exposed the growing insecurity faced daily by healthcare workers, particularly while travelling to and from duty posts across the Federal Capital Territory.
“Our lives are no longer safe. Nurses leave their homes daily to save lives, yet many are uncertain of returning alive to their families,” Medan said.
NANNM also urged the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory to urgently strengthen security around hospitals and major junctions where nurses and other healthcare workers board vehicles, especially during early morning and late-night shifts.
It further called on the government to provide safe and organised transportation for nurses where feasible to prevent further loss of innocent lives.
The association extended its condolences to the family of the deceased, the management of FMC Jabi, Abuja, and nurses across the Federal Capital Territory and Nigeria, describing the loss as painful and irreparable.
“We demand justice for our fallen colleague and urgent government intervention to guarantee the safety and security of all nurses and healthcare workers in the Federal Capital Territory. Anything short of decisive action will further expose nurses to danger and erode public confidence in the nation’s security system,” the statement added.
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