Members of the Nigerian community in Norwich, United Kingdom, have begun a fundraising drive to return the remains of Uchenna Okirie, popularly called “Common Man,” to Nigeria following his tragic death.
Okirie, a Nigerian student, was fatally stabbed in his apartment in November 2025 in an incident that sent shockwaves through both the local area and the wider Nigerian diaspora.
UK authorities have since charged a 27-year-old Congolese man, Benjamin Katabana, in connection with the killing.
To cover the cost of transporting Okirie’s body and organising his burial, the Nigerian Community Norwich launched a GoFundMe campaign titled “Rest in Peace, Uche: Help Us Return Him to His Family.”
By midweek, the appeal had attracted £1,149 from 67 donors toward a target of £7,000.
In a heartfelt message on the fundraising page, organisers described Uchenna Okirie as a kind-hearted and dependable individual who always put others first.
They recalled him as someone who readily offered his home to friends in need and guided new international students through challenges such as finding accommodation, opening bank accounts, securing jobs, and settling into life in the UK.
Okirie earned a master’s degree in Development Economics from the University of East Anglia during the 2021/2022 academic session, where he also worked as an international student ambassador.
According to the community, his gentle nature, sincerity, and quiet generosity made him a strong support system for many, leaving a lasting impression on everyone he encountered.
The organisers explained that since Okirie had no close family members in the UK, the funds raised will go toward repatriating his body to Nigeria and handling funeral arrangements.
They urged well-wishers to contribute, noting that every donation brings them closer to giving him a farewell worthy of the life he lived in service to others.
