The senseless killing of Mr Airtel.

Friday 8 August 2025, was like any other ordinary day for Obinwanne born popular and skilled young automobile “engineer” Obinna Amajioyi addressed as Airtel by close friends. Airtel who woke up in the morning of this particular day was busy thinking of his normal business of motorcycle repairs that puts food on the table. He had no premonition of death lurking around him. He went through his phone and reached out to some of his clients and friends whose motorcycles had one issue or another and held talks with them.

During the afternoon time, two customers came searching for him and after a brief conversation; Airtel fixed their motorcycle and bade them goodbye. Later that evening, after a football game, he spoke with his friend Oluebube, also known as Babe, about heading to a town in Isu LGA. Unknown to Babe, this would be the last time they would speak to each other.

It was already getting to evening time and Airtel closed for the day and went home and prepared for a football encounter. After the football game which was held at the soccer field of Obinwanne Unity Primary School, he went home, took his shower, and dressed up. Airtel zoomed off on his bike! The journey of no return has regrettably begun unknown to the sojourner.

About 2 hours later or thereabout, words started to reach Umuaka that a “motorcycle boy” suspected to be Obinna Amajioyi (Airtel) was shot at close range around Ekwe community by motorcycle snatchers while trying to dispossess him of his motorcycle at gunpoint. Trust Obinwanne youths; a good number of them jumped on their bikes and zoomed off to Ekwe to confirm the true situation. On getting to the crime scene, alas it was true!

The body of Airtel lay lifeless in a pool of his own blood after being brutally shot around his neck region at close range. Tears became uncontrollable. His friend, Babe and others managed to carry his lifeless body and first brought it to his family house in Obinwanne where a countless number of youths, women and children were already waiting and wailing.

Airtel with his friend Oluebube during an outing.

People who saw him hours before the tragic incident could not understand why someone would murder somebody like Airtel who is gentle to the core just because of a common motorcycle. Later that night, the youths took his body to the police station and made an entry before depositing it at the mortuary of Umuaka Community Hospital.

There have been some speculations around the entire Umuaka community on why the motorcycle snatchers decided to take the life of their fellow boy in his 20s just for no justifiable reason. Some have raised the question saying perhaps, he was struggling with them and in a fit of provocation; they fired him at close range. Others also suspected that either he had identified one of the robbers or they identified him and decided to end his life in cold blood. Whatever may be the true position, the person who would disclose what really transpired is no more. His killers have also run away and the world is left with speculations and suspicions.

The killing of Mr Obinna Amajioyi has indeed sent shockwaves to the entire youths of Umuaka and Obinwanne in particular. It has been described as a senseless killing and it has gathered an atmosphere of stout and endless condemnations both in Umuaka and beyond. Obinna Amajioyi was born in 2001 and was murdered at the age of 24.