Enugu Doctor Dies After Being Kidnapped, Shot Twice In Chilling Attack
The medical community in Enugu is in mourning following the tragic death of Dr. Andrew Orovwigho, a prominent Chief Consultant Psychiatrist at the Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital (FNPH). Dr. Orovwigho reportedly died on January 2, 2026, from injuries sustained during a violent kidnapping ordeal. The specialist, who led the Psychogeriatric Unit at the hospital, was first abducted from the front of his residence on December 30, 2025, where he was allegedly shot before being taken by his captors.
In a harrowing series of events, the doctor was released on New Year’s Day, only to be reportedly attacked a second time shortly thereafter. Sources indicate he was shot again and abandoned by the roadside, where a “good Samaritan” eventually discovered him and sought emergency medical assistance. Despite the efforts of colleagues and medical staff, he succumbed to the severity of his wounds the following day, leaving behind a legacy of dedicated service to vulnerable mental health patients.
The Chairman of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Enugu State Chapter, Dr. Sunny Ken Okafor, has confirmed the incident, describing it as a devastating blow to the healthcare sector. While full details of the second attack remain unclear, Dr. Okafor indicated that the association is not taking the matter lightly. An emergency meeting of medical practitioners has been scheduled for next Wednesday to deliberate on the safety of its members and potential actions to address the growing insecurity.
This killing has reignited deep-seated fears among health workers who feel they have become “endangered species” in the region. Medical professionals in Enugu have expressed alarm over the increasing frequency of kidnappings and violent assaults targeting doctors and nurses. Many argue that the environment has become unacceptably hostile, with professionals being hunted even as they return home from life-saving shifts.
Dr. Orovwigho was widely respected as an expert in addiction and forensic psychiatry, contributing significantly to research and clinical practice at the FNPH New Haven facility. His death is being viewed by his peers not just as a personal tragedy, but as a preventable loss of a national asset. The lack of an official statement from the hospital management has not stopped a flood of tributes from former patients and colleagues who remember him as a compassionate and tireless specialist.
The NMA’s upcoming meeting is expected to put pressure on both the state government and security agencies to provide better protection for healthcare facilities and residential areas housing medical staff. With the 2027 elections approaching and political tensions rising, the medical community is demanding that security be prioritized to prevent further brain drain and the loss of essential personnel.
As Enugu prepares to bid farewell to one of its finest psychiatric experts, the case remains a stark reminder of the volatile security situation across the country. The NMA has signaled that it will continue to demand accountability and a revamped security architecture to ensure that no more lives are lost to such senseless violence.
