A youth worker who devoted his life to steering youngsters away from gang crime has become the latest victim of London’s knife epidemic.
Tributes have been paid to Kwabena Nelson, 22, who was ambushed yards from his home in Tottenham in the early hours of Saturday.
Mr Nelson, known as Kobi, ‘was in the wrong place at the wrong time’ and was one of three men to die from stab wounds in the capital in just 48 hours.
Juan Olmos Saca, 39, died in hospital on Sunday six days after being stabbed in Peckham.
And a 19-year-old man was knifed in Barking on Saturday night. Scotland Yard said it is not yet in a position to name the victim.
Their deaths mean 12 people, including three teenagers, have died on the capital’s streets since New Year’s Eve.
It is another setback for London mayor Sadiq Khan, who promised to get a stranglehold on the year-on-year increase in knife crime in the city.
On social media, friends used the hashtag #standtogetherforkobi to pay tribute to Mr Nelson, who was also known as Kobi.
His sister, Ama, said: ‘I still can’t believe that my little brother has been taken from me.
‘I refuse to believe that your gone! I love you Kobi.’
One friend said: ‘We use to talk about having ambitions making something of ourselves, you was always the one that checked up on me to see if I was okay words can’t describe how upset I am that your no longer here R.I.P Kobi you’ll always be remembered.’
Another wrote: ‘Still in denial but I’ll never forget you… you really had my back & always checked up on me. Rest easy KingKobi.’
Mr Nelson’s family is originally from Ghana and he worked for a Haringey-based award-winning project which tackles gang problems.
On Sunday night grieving friends gathered at the scene of his death on St Mary’s Close for a candle-lit vigil.
No arrests have been made in connection with his death.
His death came just 12 hours after a teenager was stabbed to death in Barking. The 19-year-old screamed ‘help me’ after being attacked next to a football field.
Neighbours desperately tried to help the man but he was pronounced dead at the scene on Abbey Road.
No arrests have been made and police are yet to confirm his identity.
Mr Olmos Saca was attacked at Atwell Road in Peckham Rye on January 29. A man has been charged with his murder.
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