A 33-year-old Nigerian man was fatally st@bbed by a Congolese national at a residential accommodation housing students and professionals in the United Kingdom.
Uchenna Okirie, known as Uche, was found with a knife wound at Somerleyton House on Somerleyton Street in Norwich on Saturday, November 22, 2025. Police were called to the scene at around 5am, and emergency responders discovered him with a stab wound to the chest. Medics attempted to save his life, but he passed away despite their efforts.
He was a former postgraduate student at the University of East Anglia, and authorities confirmed that his next of kin in Nigeria have been informed of his d3ath.
The suspect, Benjamin Katabana, 27, of Somerleyton Street, Norwich, has been charged with m8rder and appeared at Norwich Crown Court on Tuesday, November 25. A post-mortem examination indicated that Okirie died from a stab wound to the chest.
Katabana has been remanded in custody and is expected to appear again at Norwich Crown Court on January 30 for a plea and trial preparation hearing.
Okirie had previously published an academic paper under the University of East Anglia’s name on the impact of climate change on health outcomes in sub-Saharan Africa. His social media activity also showed that he volunteered with the British Red Cross, reflecting a commitment to humanitarian service alongside his academic pursuits.
