Nigerians in Norwich launch a fundraiser to repatriate slain Nigerian student Uchenna Okirie after his killing in the UK

Nigerians living in Norwich, United Kingdom, have launched a fundraising campaign to repatriate the remains of Uchenna Okirie, a Nigerian national who was stabbed to death in his student apartment in November 2025.

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Okirie, fondly known as “Common Man”, was killed under circumstances that shocked both the local community and Nigerians across the UK. British police have charged a 27-year-old Congolese national, Benjamin Katabana, in connection with the incident.

The appeal was initiated by the Nigerian Community Norwich through a GoFundMe campaign titled “Rest in Peace, Uche: Help Us Return Him to His Family”. As of Wednesday, the fundraiser had raised £1,149 of its £7,000 target, with 67 donors contributing.

Organisers described Okirie as a compassionate and selfless young man whose life was defined by service and quiet generosity.

In a statement on the fundraising page, the group said Okirie was “a remarkable soul, steady, genuine, and deeply compassionate”, whose loss had left the community heartbroken.

Okirie completed a Master’s degree in Development Economics at the University of East Anglia during the 2021/2022 academic session, where he also served as an international student ambassador.

He was widely known for supporting newly arrived international students, often offering accommodation, guidance and practical help.

According to the organisers, Okirie was recognised for his calm demeanour, honesty and consistent willingness to put the needs of others first, qualities that earned him deep respect among friends, coursemates and colleagues.

The Nigerian Community Norwich said the funds would be used to transport Okirie’s body to Nigeria and support burial arrangements, noting that he had no immediate family members in the UK.

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Describing the initiative as a final act of gratitude, the organisers said the campaign was intended to give Okirie a dignified farewell worthy of the life he lived and the lives he touched.