The Elegant Nurses Forum has expressed outrage over the gruesome rape and murder of Miss Chinwendu Achumba, a student nurse of the College of Nursing Sciences, Umuadara Umulogho in Imo State, describing the incident as a reflection of worsening insecurity across Nigeria.
In a press statement signed by its National Coordinator, Nurse Thomas Abiodun Olamide, the forum said it received the news with “deep shock, pain and anger,” condemning the killing as a barbaric act against an innocent young woman.
According to reports cited by the forum, the student nurse was attacked in her residence by suspected criminals who forcefully gained entry into her room, where she was raped and murdered.
The group lamented what it described as the growing vulnerability of women and female students, noting that many now live in fear due to rising cases of violent crimes and inadequate protection.
“The horrific act is not only evil but a direct reflection of the worsening insecurity and moral collapse threatening lives across Nigeria,” the statement read.
The forum also criticised both the Imo State Government and the Federal Government for what it termed a failure to ensure the safety of citizens, particularly young women and healthcare trainees.
Highlighting the challenges faced by nurses, the group said the profession remains “humiliated and neglected,” despite the critical role nurses play in saving lives. It described the death of Achumba as a tragic loss of a promising healthcare professional whose aspirations were cut short.
The Elegant Nurses Forum issued a series of demands, including the immediate arrest and prosecution of all individuals involved in the crime, stressing that justice must be transparent and swift.
It also called on the Imo State Government to take responsibility for the burial of the deceased and to immortalise her by naming a public facility in her honour.
Other demands include financial compensation for the victim’s family, construction of secure hostel facilities for students, improved security surveillance around schools, and stricter enforcement of laws against rape and gender-based violence.
The forum further urged security agencies not to downplay or conceal the case, warning that both the public and the nursing profession are closely monitoring developments.
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The group expressed solidarity with the family, friends, and colleagues of the deceased, praying for strength for them during the period of grief.
The killing has sparked renewed concerns over the safety of students and the increasing incidence of gender-based violence in the country.
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