A popular Awka-based mobile advertiser and media personality, Isaac Nwosu, popularly known as Aiza, has been killed by suspected gunmen in Anambra State, sparking concern among residents of the state capital.
Nwosu was one of two people shot dead at separate locations in Awka on Sunday, with the circumstances surrounding the attacks still unclear.
According to the Anambra State Police Command, the victims were allegedly attacked by three unidentified men travelling in a silver-coloured Toyota Corolla.
Nwosu’s bullet-riddled body was discovered inside his Toyota Hilux, while the second victim, who has not been identified, was found along a street in the city with a gunshot wound to the head.
A source said Nwosu may have been followed from his residence by the assailants, who were reportedly travelling in a vehicle with tinted windows, before they opened fire.
The killing has attracted particular attention because Nwosu was a familiar figure in Awka’s entertainment and events industry. He worked as a mobile advertiser, disc jockey and master of ceremonies at high-profile events and had also presented programmes on local radio stations.
Sources said he had previously survived attempts on his life. He was also involved in a controversial accident while carrying out a public-address function with his vehicle, an incident that reportedly left him at risk of permanent disability.
The latest attack has now prompted an intensified security operation across Awka and adjoining communities.
The police said officers were mobilised immediately after receiving a distress call and recovered the bodies from Capital City Road, Amaenyi, and S.M. Okeke Street, Amaikwo.
The victims were taken to a hospital, where medical personnel confirmed them dead.
Police operatives also recovered ₦7,550, a Moniepoint ATM card and a pair of slippers from the scenes.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, said the command had begun a manhunt for the attackers and urged residents to provide information that could assist the investigation.
“The Police condemns in the strongest terms the gunshot attacks carried out by unidentified gunmen in Awka,” Ikenga said.
He added that the Commissioner of Police, CP Nnanna Oji Ama, had directed the transfer of the case to the State Criminal Investigation Department in Awka for a discreet and comprehensive investigation.
The command has also increased patrols, surveillance and intelligence-gathering operations across the state capital.
Ikenga appealed to community leaders, motorists, business owners and residents who witnessed the attacks or noticed the suspects or the vehicle used in the operation to contact the police.
He assured members of the public that information provided would be treated confidentially, stressing that cooperation between residents and security agencies would be critical to identifying those responsible.
As investigators work to establish the motive behind the killings, the attacks have heightened concerns over the security of residents and business operators in Awka.
