Four men in Ilford, east London, were sentenced to at least 38 years in prison for the gruesome murders of two rappers, who were violently attacked in a gang-related revenge plot. The victims, Saydi Abu Sheikh and Zakariya Jeilani Mohamed, were fatally stabbed and shot in a house assault. The attackers, armed with guns and knives, fired 45 shots during the midnight raid in October 2022 and left one survivor with a gunshot wound to the head.
The murders were carried out as a vengeful act orchestrated by Zain Mirza, seeking retribution for the killing of his brother in 2019. During the trial at the Old Bailey, Chibuike Ohanweh, Ayaanle Adan, and Mahad Gouled were found guilty of double murder, attempted murder, and perverting the course of justice. They, along with Zain Mirza, were sentenced to life in prison with a minimum term of 38 years. Additionally, a fifth defendant, Zakarie Mohamad, was sentenced to four years in a young offenders institute for perverting the course of justice.
The severity of the crime was highlighted by the deliberate planning and execution of the attack, with the attackers donning burkas to conceal their identities and utilizing a stolen vehicle in the murder. The presiding judge, Mark Lucraft KC, emphasized the gang-related violence that tragically resulted in two deaths and a life-changing injury for another victim, deeming it a clear example of the ongoing gang rivalry in London.
The families of the victims expressed the profound impact of the loss, with Mr. Sheikh’s family mourning the irreplaceable void left in their lives and Mr. Mohamed’s family reeling from the long-lasting shadow cast on their family. The survivor’s family shared the difficult journey of recovery after the injury, acknowledging the altered state of their loved one due to the brain injury sustained during the attack.
During the sentencing, the defense attorneys offered mitigating factors, including Adan’s diagnosis of ADHD, the exploitation and trafficking of Mohamad, and Mirza’s father’s sorrow for his son’s actions. The lead investigator, Detective Chief Inspector Chris Wood, provided insight into the extensive police inquiries that linked the perpetrators to the crime, shedding light on the planning of the fatal attack in connection to the prior murder of Mirza’s brother.
Ultimately, the sentencing marked the end of a deeply distressing and tragic chapter, bringing justice to the victims’ families and underscoring the lasting impact of gang violence on communities.