January 7, 2026 l Dalena Reporters
LONDON — United Kingdom Metropolitan Police have charged a 17-year-old boy with murder in connection with the fatal stabbing of a Nigerian man in southeast London on New Year’s Eve, police confirmed on Tuesday. The charged teen, whose identity cannot be disclosed due to his age, is scheduled to appear at Bromley Magistrates’ Youth Court later this week as part of an ongoing homicide investigation.
The victim, identified as 23-year-old John Temitope Onetufo, was discovered with a stab wound to the chest on Grove Street in Lewisham shortly after 12:35 a.m. GMT on December 31, 2025 following an emergency call to police. Despite rapid response by the London Ambulance Service and London’s Air Ambulance, Onetufo was pronounced dead at the scene, exacerbating public concern over knife violence in the British capital.
Metropolitan Police said the teenager was among two suspects arrested on January 2 in connection with the incident; the other, a 23-year-old man, has since been bailed while enquiries continue. Detective Chief Inspector Samantha Townsend, leading the investigation, appealed to the public for any further information to assist detectives as they work to establish the full circumstances surrounding the fatal attack.
“We remain committed to finding answers and ensuring those responsible are brought to justice,” Townsend said, offering condolences to the victim’s family and friends. The charged teenager’s court appearance marks a significant development in the case, but law enforcement emphasised that the inquiry remains ongoing.
The stabbing reflects broader trends of knife-related violence across the UK, with authorities frequently urging communities to help curb the prevalence of such crimes and to report any relevant information.