By Bunmi Yekini
The Association of Psychiatrists in Nigeria (APN) has demanded a swift investigation and enhanced protection for healthcare workers after one of its members, Dr. Andrew Orovwigho, died from gunshot injuries days after he was abducted in southeastern Nigeria.
Dr. Orovwigho, a consultant psychiatrist at the Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Enugu, was kidnapped from his residence in Enugu on Dec. 30, 2025, according to a statement signed by APN President Dr. Veronica Oluyemisi Nyamali and Secretary-General Prof. Kingsley Mayowa Okonoda.
The association said he had earlier left a family visit within Enugu metropolis after receiving a call requesting that he attend to what appeared to be a private patient at home. On arrival at his residence, he was accosted by three armed men in a tricycle, shot in the left knee and forcibly taken away in his vehicle.
He was later found at a sand excavation site on the outskirts of Enugu with multiple gunshot wounds to his shoulder, forearm and lower limbs. A sand loader reportedly discovered him in the early hours of Dec. 31 and alerted security personnel.
APN said Orovwigho was conscious and able to speak when he was taken to hospital and received emergency treatment. He died on Jan. 2, 2026, while under medical care.
The attackers allegedly contacted a member of the household he had visited earlier, claiming they had been paid to kill him, the association said.
“This reprehensible act is not only a violation of natural justice, it is a direct assault on the medical profession and the Nigerian healthcare system,” the APN said, describing his death as a “colossal blow” to Nigeria’s mental health community.
Nigeria has fewer than 150 psychiatrists serving a population of more than 200 million people, according to the association, which warned that insecurity and poor working conditions were already driving many doctors to leave the country.
The APN called on authorities in Enugu State to identify and prosecute those responsible, provide compensation and support to the bereaved family, and strengthen security measures to protect healthcare professionals.
The association said it appreciated the Enugu State governor for convening a security meeting at the instance of the Nigerian Medical Association, particularly its Enugu State branch, and acknowledged the involvement of the Department of State Services and the state police command.
However, it said further action was expected and warned that failure to meet its demands would compel the association to take “all legitimate and lawful actions” to protect its members.
“We will not rest until justice is secured for our brutally murdered colleague,” the statement said.