Nigerians living in Norwich, United Kingdom, have launched a fundraising campaign to repatriate the remains of Uchenna Okirie, a Nigerian student who was stabbed to death in his apartment in November 2025.
Okirie, known affectionately as “Common Man,” was killed under circumstances that shocked both the local and wider Nigerian community. A 27-year-old Congolese national, Benjamin Katabana, has been charged in connection with the killing.
The Nigerian Community Norwich set up a GoFundMe appeal titled “Rest in Peace, Uche: Help Us Return Him to His Family” to support the repatriation and burial. As of Wednesday, the fundraiser had raised £1,149 of its £7,000 goal from 67 donors.
Organisers described Okirie as a compassionate and selfless young man whose life was defined by service to others. “We are heartbroken to share the passing of our dear friend and colleague, Uchenna Okirie, fondly known by many as ‘Common Man’… Uche was tragically stabbed to death in his home. He was a remarkable soul—steady, genuine, and deeply compassionate,” the appeal said.
Okirie completed an MSc in Development Economics at the University of East Anglia in 2021/2022, where he also served as an international student ambassador. He was known for supporting newly arrived international students, often helping them find housing, set up bank accounts, or navigate life in the UK.
“When friends arrived in the UK with nowhere to stay, he opened his home without hesitation… When someone needed help setting up a bank account, searching for a job, or navigating a new environment, Uche showed up,” the organisers wrote.
The appeal said Okirie’s calmness, honesty, and selflessness made him a pillar of support for his friends, classmates, and colleagues. Funds raised will cover the cost of transporting his body to Nigeria and funeral arrangements, as he had no immediate family in the UK.
“This is our way of giving back to someone who gave so freely of himself. No contribution is too small, and every donation brings us closer to giving Uche the farewell he deserves,” the organisers added.
