ABUJA — The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has condemned in strong terms the killing of Miss Freda Arnong, a Ghanaian-born human rights supporter, who died after falling victim to a violent ‘one-chance’ robbery attack in Abuja.
In a statement issued on Monday, the group described her death as the “gruesome, satanic handwork of terrorists disguised as robbers,” and called on the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, to declare a state of emergency on security within the capital.
According to HURIWA, Freda was abducted on July 1, 2025, near the Transcorp Hilton Hotel after boarding a vehicle she believed to be a regular taxi. She was later dumped by the roadside near the Moshood Abiola Stadium. She died on July 7 from injuries sustained during the attack, including multiple broken ribs, lung and kidney damage, and internal bleeding.
“We in HURIWA are devastated by the horrific death of Miss Freda Arnong, a God-fearing and generous soul,” the group said. “Her killing is yet another painful reminder of the unchecked terror inflicted on residents of Abuja by ‘one-chance’ criminals.”
Freda’s brother, Arnong Arnong, recounted that she was blindfolded and brutally assaulted after the gang realized she had no ATM card and limited digital banking access. He said the attackers intensified the beating and eventually left her at about 11:00 p.m. “Her only crime was living in a beautiful city plagued by a broken system,” he lamented.
In response to the tragedy, HURIWA urged the FCT administration to urgently deploy armed security and vigilante forces to criminal hotspots, install CCTV cameras, and create rapid-response teams to tackle the growing menace.
“It is far more urgent to secure lives than to build more flyovers,” the group stated, insisting that safety must come before infrastructure.
The association also called on the National Assembly to introduce capital punishment for ‘one-chance’ robbery that results in death, proposing firing squad or multiple life sentences as deterrents.
Declaring Abuja to be “under siege,” HURIWA said the situation demands immediate intervention from both federal and local authorities. The group further urged the Nigerian media to play an active role in raising awareness and educating the public on how to avoid falling victim to such criminal operations.
“The media must not remain silent,” HURIWA stressed. “Nigerians must be educated. Lives are being lost, and we must act decisively.”
The rights group concluded by demanding justice for Freda, calling on law enforcement agencies to track and prosecute the perpetrators without delay.
“Freda Arnong must not die in vain. The system must not fail again. Her killers must be brought to justice — swiftly and decisively.”
