Three men, including Nigerian sentenced to life for brutal murder in London

Three men, including a Nigerian identified as Joshua Oladele, have been sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of 25-year-old Hamza Iqbal in London, United Kingdom.

The tragic incident, described as a revenge attack, occurred on September 24, 2023, when Hamza was ambushed and brutally stabbed 23 times by the trio Oladele, Micah Hines, and Ali Alamiri wielding machetes.

According to multiple reports, the attack was orchestrated on behalf of 28-year-old Dontae Smicle, who had been stabbed 11 days earlier and sought retribution. Smicle, believed to be the mastermind behind the attack, has since fled the country, evading justice.

On Wednesday, Snaresbrook Crown Court delivered its judgment, sentencing Oladele to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 28 years, Hines to 25 years, and Alamiri to 24 years. The court’s decision brings some measure of closure to the case, but the pain lingers for Hamza’s family.

Hamza’s devastated family described him as a devoted family man who was on his way to watch an Arsenal game before his life was tragically cut short.

“Hamza was football crazy. He might not have been the best player, but his love for Arsenal was unmatched,” they added.

The court was told how the brutal attack stemmed from a gang rivalry.

Smicle, believing Hamza’s group was responsible for the earlier attack on him, spotted them that fateful evening and called Oladele, said to be a known drug runner since age 13, to exact revenge.

The three men, donning hoodies and balaclavas, were seen by an eyewitness psyching each other up before launching their deadly assault.

As Hamza and his friends tried to flee, Oladele chased Hamza down, stabbing him repeatedly even as he lay helpless on the ground. Hines then joined in, inflicting further wounds.

Honorary Recorder of Redbridge, Judge Rosa Dean, described the attack as a “punishment killing” and lamented the terror Hamza must have felt in his final moments.

Dean refused the attackers’ claims that they only intended to scare Hamza’s group under Smicle’s orders.

She remarked, “None of you have shown any remorse during the trial. Everything you’ve done has been to try to save yourselves and downplay your responsibility.

“While the plan may have been Smicle’s, you were all ready and willing to carry it out.”