Popular Anambra comedian and media personality Isaac Nwosu, widely known as Aiza Nwosu, was followed and waylaid by gunmen before being shot dead inside his vehicle in Awka, the Anambra State capital.
Nwosu, a familiar voice in Awka’s entertainment scene, was killed on Sunday evening, August 30, 2026, in one of two shootings recorded in different parts of the city.
The attacks occurred around S.M. Okeke Street in Amaikwo and Capital City Road in Amaenyi, leaving Nwosu and another man dead.
The Anambra State Police Command confirmed the killings on Monday, saying preliminary information indicated that three unidentified men travelling in a silver-coloured Toyota Corolla were behind the attacks. The vehicle’s registration number had not been established.
An eyewitness said the attackers appeared to have trailed Nwosu from his residence before intercepting his vehicle.
The gunmen, believed to be three in number, reportedly drove a tinted car and blocked Nwosu’s path before opening fire. He was later found motionless inside his vehicle.
The assailants were alleged to have proceeded to another location, where they shot a second man by the roadside and took some of his belongings before fleeing.
Residents said the gunmen fired shots into the air as they escaped, causing panic in the affected neighbourhoods. Messages warning people to remain indoors circulated across Awka as reports of the shootings spread on Sunday evening.
Police operatives were subsequently deployed to both locations following distress calls.
Spokesperson for the Anambra State Police Command, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, said the bodies of the victims were recovered from separate scenes and taken to a hospital, where doctors confirmed them dead.
While the second victim had yet to be identified, police identified the other as Isaac Nwosu, also known as Aiza.
Items recovered during a search of the scenes included ₦7,550 in cash, a Moniepoint ATM card and a pair of slippers.
The motive for the killings remained unclear as of Monday. Some residents, however, suspected that the attacks could be connected to cult-related activities, although the police had not confirmed that claim.
Nwosu was well known across Awka as a master of ceremonies, roadshow entertainer and media personality. His distinctive style of public announcements, humour and lively presence earned him a strong following within the city.
News of his death triggered an outpouring of grief, particularly among entertainers and residents who described him as one of the most recognisable personalities in Awka’s social and entertainment circles.
Several mourners likened his death to the fall of a “big iroko tree” in the city’s entertainment industry.
The Anambra State Commissioner of Police, CP Nnanna Oji Ama, condemned the killings and described them as unacceptable.
He directed that the case be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department in Awka for a detailed investigation and ordered operatives to intensify patrols, surveillance and intelligence gathering across the state capital and neighbouring communities.
A manhunt has also been launched for the suspects and the vehicle used in the attacks.
The police appealed to residents, community leaders, motorists and business owners who witnessed the shootings or had information about the gunmen and their movements to come forward.
Ikenga assured the public that the identities of anyone providing useful information would be protected, adding that cooperation between residents and security agencies would be crucial to finding those responsible.
