Isaac “Aiza” Nwosu was one of the most recognisable voices in Awka. On Sunday night, he was shot dead after gunmen allegedly trailed him through the state capital, in an attack that has left residents grieving and renewed questions about public safety in Anambra’s capital.
AWKA — Awka woke on Monday to the kind of news that spreads long before official statements are issued.
Isaac Nwosu, better known across the state as Aiza Nwosu, had been killed.
For years, his voice had become part of the rhythm of life in the Anambra capital. Whether making community announcements, promoting businesses and events, directing traffic at busy intersections or entertaining crowds with his unmistakable style, Aiza was one of those rare local personalities whose presence extended well beyond the profession that first made him popular.
His killing on Sunday night has therefore resonated far beyond his family and close associates. For many residents, it is another disturbing reminder that violence once associated with isolated incidents is becoming an increasingly familiar feature of urban life in the state capital.
According to the Anambra State Police Command, the attack formed part of a coordinated sequence of shootings carried out by armed men travelling in a silver Toyota Corolla with tinted windows.
Police spokesman SP Tochukwu Ikenga said preliminary investigations indicate that the assailants allegedly trailed Nwosu from his residence before intercepting his Toyota Hilux along S.M. Okeke Street in the Amaikwo area of Awka.
The gunmen reportedly blocked his vehicle and opened fire, killing him at the scene.
Within minutes, the attackers were said to have driven to Capital City Road in Amaenyi, where they shot another middle-aged man before robbing him and fleeing. The second victim died from his injuries, while the attackers escaped before security operatives arrived.
Investigators believe both attacks were carried out by the same group, although authorities have yet to disclose whether the two victims were connected or whether the shootings were motivated by a common objective.
For many residents, the death of Aiza Nwosu is particularly difficult to comprehend because of his visibility within the community.
He was widely regarded as Awka’s modern-day town crier, blending traditional public announcements with contemporary media, entertainment and grassroots advertising. His energetic personality, willingness to volunteer at traffic bottlenecks and familiarity with traders, motorists and neighbourhood associations made him one of the city’s best-known public figures.
It was common for residents to hear his voice before they saw him.
That familiarity has made news of his death especially painful.
By Monday morning, tributes had begun appearing across social media, with friends, colleagues and admirers remembering him as an energetic community mobiliser whose work connected businesses, organisations and neighbourhoods across Awka. Many expressed disbelief that someone so well known could be attacked so brazenly on the city’s streets.
The Anambra State Police Command has launched a homicide investigation and says efforts are underway to identify both the attackers and the vehicle used in the operation. Officers are appealing to members of the public with information that could assist the investigation to come forward.
Although the motive remains unclear, the killings come against a backdrop of persistent security concerns in parts of Awka, where residents have increasingly complained about targeted attacks, cult-related violence and armed criminal activity. The latest incident is likely to intensify calls for stronger intelligence-led policing and more visible security measures within the state capital.
For Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s administration, which has repeatedly pledged to improve security across Anambra, the killing of one of Awka’s most recognisable personalities presents another difficult test. Beyond solving a high-profile murder, investigators will be expected to reassure residents that the city’s streets are not slipping beyond the reach of law enforcement.
For now, however, the investigation has only just begun.
A city that had grown accustomed to hearing Aiza Nwosu’s voice is instead mourning his sudden absence, while detectives work to establish who wanted him dead—and why.
