The United Kingdom’s Metropolitan Police have confirmed the arrest of two suspects in connection with a stabbing that claimed the life of a 23-year-old Nigerian, John Temitope Onetufo, in London.
According to a statement published on the Met Police website on Monday, the incident occurred on New Year’s Eve in the Lewisham area of the city. Police said they were alerted to the stabbing at about 12:35 p.m.
Emergency responders, including officers from the Metropolitan Police, the London Ambulance Service and London’s Air Ambulance, arrived at the scene on Grove Street, Lewisham, where Onetufo was found with stab wounds to the chest. Despite urgent medical attention, he was pronounced dead at the scene.
The police identified the victim as John Temitope Onetufo from Deptford.
The statement further disclosed that two suspects—a 17-year-old boy and a 23-year-old man—were arrested on January 2 in connection with the incident.
Detective Chief Inspector Samantha Townsend, who is leading the investigation, said the arrests marked a significant step but stressed that inquiries were still ongoing. She appealed to members of the public with relevant information to assist the police.
“My team has worked relentlessly over recent days to pursue every line of enquiry, and I can confirm that two arrests have now been made in connection with this tragic incident,” Townsend said. “This is a significant development, but our investigation remains ongoing as we work to establish the full circumstances surrounding what happened.”
She also extended condolences to the victim’s family and friends, assuring them that the police remain committed to ensuring those responsible are brought to justice.
The incident has again drawn attention to the issue of knife crime in the United Kingdom, which has claimed the lives of several people, including Nigerians. In August 2025, a 60-year-old Nigerian woman, Nkiru Chima, was found dead with multiple stab wounds in her apartment in Romford, following a distress report received by the Metropolitan Police from the British Transport Police.