Airtel! One death a thousand pains.

From the time Umuaka Times broke the news on Friday night that a popular Obinwanne youth named Airtel, was murdered in Ekwe, the social media practically went on fire. In less than one hour, the story of his murder had been shared over 2000 times and still counting even till today.

The most interesting and shocking aspect of his death was perhaps his role at the football match between Mountain Movers FC and St Onuoha FC which took place yesterday. Airtel was the goalkeeper of Mountain Movers and he had always been the first choice keeper for the club. According to a teammate of the club, Airtel was the first person to arrive at the Unity Stadium Obinwanne yesterday for the football match and he did very well during the match. Unknown to them, he came to tell them goodbye and that he did.

Umuaka Times sources confirmed that he was on suspension but as the football match was about to begin, nobody remembered that he was on suspension and he was allowed to play despite not training with his team mates.

These were perhaps, signs that he was playing his last football on earth but nobody understood the spiritual connotation that greeted his appearance at the stadium.

When the footballers heard that the boy who was with them just some few hours ago was no more, none of them could believe it until they made some calls to confirm. From the time his death was announced, mourners kept rushing to Obinwanne community to establish the claim that Airtel, a promising young guy had been murdered. As they got to their family house, it was confirmed to be true.

Yesterday being Saturday 9 August 2025, life at the mechanic and auto parts section of Afor Umuaka market was so dull as many shop owners folded their hands across their chests whispering to each other about the life and times of Airtel. That was where the boy used to do business as an auto mobile engineer. His close neighbours refused to open their shops for business as a sign of respect throughout yesterday.

Airtel with his team mates.

Some Akalites who spoke with Umuaka Times from Cambodia and Thailand expressed deep shocks and surprises over the senseless murder of Mr Airtel. One of them claimed that it was as if the poor boy was murdered there in any of the two Asian countries as the news was on the lips of all Akalites living in the countries.

Umuaka Times reporters confirmed that as at press time in the early hours of today being Sunday 10 August 2025, mourners and sympathizers were still trooping to the Amajioyi family to register their condolences with the bereaved family.

The murder of Obinna Amajioyi also known as Airtel, reminds the entire communities around Umuaka that armed robbery and motorcycle snatching are yet to be thing of the past.