POPULAR ANAMBRA COMEDIAN SHOT DEAD BY GUNMEN IN AWKA

A popular comedian and media personality, Isaac Nwosu, popularly known as Aiza Nwosu, has been killed by unidentified gunmen in Awka, the Anambra State capital.

Nwosu was reportedly shot dead on Sunday, August 30, 2026, alongside an unidentified middle-aged man in separate attacks carried out at different locations within the city.

The comedian was attacked along S.M. Okeke Street, Amaikwo, while the second victim was shot along Capital City Road, Amaenyi, Awka. The incidents reportedly occurred within a short period and sent residents into panic as gunshots were heard in the affected areas.

According to eyewitness accounts, about three armed men travelling in a silver-coloured Toyota Corolla allegedly trailed Nwosu from his residence before double-crossing his vehicle and opening fire.

The comedian was reportedly shot inside his car and left in a pool of blood. The attackers subsequently drove away and allegedly shot another man by the roadside before dispossessing him of his belongings.

The assailants reportedly fired several shots into the air as they fled the area, creating further panic among residents and motorists.

Security operatives later arrived at the two locations and recovered the bodies of the victims. The victims were taken to a hospital, where medical personnel subsequently confirmed them dead.

The Anambra State Police Command confirmed the killings on Monday, saying it had commenced an investigation and launched a manhunt for the perpetrators.

The Police Public Relations Officer, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, said preliminary information indicated that three unidentified persons were responsible for the attacks and travelled in a silver Toyota Corolla whose registration number was yet to be established.

Police operatives recovered the bodies from the two crime scenes and also found ₦7,550, a Moniepoint ATM card and a pair of slippers at the scene.

The command said it had intensified patrols, surveillance and intelligence gathering across Awka and neighbouring areas in an effort to track down the suspects.

The Commissioner of Police in Anambra State, CP Nnanna Ama, condemned the killings, describing them as unacceptable and a direct threat to the peace and security of the state.

He subsequently directed that the case be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department in Awka for a discreet and comprehensive investigation.

The police said they were working to establish the motive for the attacks. Although some residents and eyewitnesses suspected that the killings could be linked to cult-related activities, the police have not officially confirmed this as the motive.

The command appealed to residents, community leaders, motorists, business owners and anyone who may have witnessed the attacks or noticed suspicious movements to provide useful information that could assist investigators.

Police authorities assured members of the public that information supplied to them would be treated confidentially.

The killings have renewed concerns over security in Awka and surrounding communities, with residents calling for increased police visibility and stronger intelligence gathering to prevent similar attacks.

The Anambra Police Command said its priority remains the identification and arrest of those responsible for the killings and bringing them to justice.