The National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives (NANNM), Federal Health Institutions Sector, has expressed shock and heartbreak over the killing of Nurse Chinemerem Chukwumeziem of the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Jabi, Abuja.
In a statement to the News Agency of Nigeria on Tuesday, the National Secretary of the association, Enya Osinachi, condemned the killing and called for urgent measures to protect nurses amid rising insecurity across the country.
Osinachi said the nurse had completed her afternoon shift on January 3, 2026, rendered care to patients, and boarded public transport home but never arrived at her destination. Her lifeless body was later discovered, sparking outrage within the nursing profession.
Describing the killing as wicked and senseless, the association said the incident was not only an attack on the nursing profession but also an assault on healthcare workers and humanity.
NANNM said the murder highlighted worsening insecurity that continues to threaten healthcare workers, particularly nurses who often endure long shifts and unsafe commuting conditions in many Nigerian cities.
The association expressed solidarity with the family and colleagues of the deceased but stressed that sympathy alone was insufficient without concrete government action to guarantee the safety of nurses in hospitals, clinics and their communities.
It called on security agencies in the Federal Capital Territory, including the Nigeria Police Force, the Department of State Services and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, to conduct a thorough and transparent investigation into the killing and ensure that the perpetrators are brought to justice.
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NANNM also urged the authorities to improve security around hospitals and commuting routes, provide staff transport, and recognise nurses as high-risk essential workers through appropriate policy reforms, funding and enforcement.
The association further called for improved hazard allowances, life insurance, welfare support for affected families and regular security risk assessments to prevent further loss of lives among nurses nationwide.
Osinachi said nurses are essential caregivers and breadwinners, warning that continued attacks on healthcare workers undermine public trust and morale. He urged decisive action to ensure the tragedy serves as a turning point in addressing the safety of nurses in Nigeria.