The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) has expressed deep sadness over the deaths of two Nigerian citizens who were killed in separate violent incidents in the United Kingdom and Canada in the early days of the new year.
In a statement released in Abuja on January 9, 2026, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the commission, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, described the incidents as heartbreaking and deeply troubling.
The message, conveyed by NiDCOM’s Director of Media, Public Relations and Protocols, Abdur-Rahman Balogun, conveyed the commission’s condolences to the families, friends, and loved ones of the deceased, acknowledging the immense pain they are currently enduring.
Dabiri-Erewa commended law enforcement authorities in both countries for their swift response to the incidents. She specifically praised the UK Metropolitan Police and the Toronto Police Service for promptly commencing investigations.
She urged the authorities to ensure transparent and comprehensive inquiries, stressing that justice for the victims would provide some measure of comfort to their grieving families.
The NiDCOM boss further reassured Nigerians abroad that the commission remains committed to protecting the welfare of citizens in the diaspora. She said NiDCOM is working closely with Nigerian High Commissions in the United Kingdom and Canada to provide necessary assistance and support to the affected families, in line with the commission’s mandate.
According to available reports, one of the victims, 23-year-old John Temitope Onetufo, was fatally stabbed on New Year’s Eve in Lewisham, London.
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In a separate incident, another Nigerian national, Osemwengie Irorere, aged 46, was shot dead at the Yorkdale GO Bus Terminal in Toronto on Sunday, January 4, 2026.
