January 9, 2026 l Reporter: Johnson
ABUJA, Nigeria — The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) has expressed deep sorrow and concern following the deaths of two Nigerian nationals in separate violent incidents in the United Kingdom and Canada during the early days of the New Year, according to a statement released Friday.
The commission’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, described the killings as shocking and deeply troubling, highlighting the toll such violence takes on Nigerian families abroad and the wider diaspora community. Dabiri-Erewa issued condolences through the Commission’s Head of Media, Abdur-Rahman Balogun, stressing the need for thorough and transparent investigations to bring those responsible to justice.
According to NiDCOM’s account, 23-year-old John Temitope Onetufo was fatally stabbed on New Year’s Eve in the Lewisham area of London, UK, in what authorities are treating as a violent altercation. In a separate incident on January 4, 46-year-old Osemwengie Irorere was reportedly shot and killed at the Yorkdale GO Bus Terminal in Toronto, Canada.
Dabiri-Erewa commended the swift responses of both the UK Metropolitan Police and the Toronto Police Service, urging them to pursue exhaustive inquiries into the circumstances surrounding each death. She reaffirmed NiDCOM’s commitment to working closely with the Nigerian High Commissions in London and Ottawa to provide consular and welfare support to affected families, consistent with the commission’s mandate to protect the interests of Nigerians overseas.
“The safety and well-being of Nigerians in the diaspora remain a top priority,” Dabiri-Erewa said, urging compatriots living abroad to remain vigilant, cooperate with local authorities, and maintain close contact with Nigerian diplomatic missions in their countries of residence.
The deaths have cast a pall on New Year celebrations within diaspora communities and renewed calls for greater engagement between host-country law enforcement and Nigerian missions to address security concerns affecting Nigerians abroad.