“It breaks my heart”
Police and politicians failed
to protect rapper who was
killed, says close friend
Police and politicians failed to protect stabbing victim and rapper Nayta the King, his close friend Hanna Demir said.
Abiola Akerele, 28, known professionally as Nayta the King, was fatally stabbed in the heart on December 29 at 3.18pm in East Ham, Newham. Four men have since been charged with murder.
Thirteen years ago, Nayta’s mother Bim told BBC Panorama she was afraid her son might one day become a victim of knife crime.
“I am scared for my son being attacked. I feel for all the black boys out there.”
Demir, 23, started seeing Nayta two years ago and said anyone living in the area is at risk, especially black men. She said politicians and police "absolutely" did not do enough to protect Nayta.
“This is a major problem and it’s hard to fix. There should be a place for young adults to hang out instead of being on the streets.
"There should be more youth centres. They need somewhere to be, otherwise they will be hanging around, they will start troubling people."
Nayta had performed his music on national radio, including Tim Westwood's BBC Radio 1Xtra show
Nayta had performed his music on national radio, including Tim Westwood's BBC Radio 1Xtra show
Demir said Nayta expressed his emotions with music.
“Because I know - because I knew him, you can hear him struggling in life. You can feel the pain in his lyrics. It was a lot of sadness.
“I wish everyone could have met him. He would come to my place and I would sit and listen to him talk. He’s unintentionally funny and he’s a perfectionist.
“That’s him though, and I loved it.”
Nayta was once part of grime collective Mucky Wolfpack and had rapped on national radio.
Death played a large part in Nayta’s life. His 2018 song UNFORGIVEN begins: “Times I should’a died I just shouldn’t be alive.”
He first started writing lyrics when he bought a Dizzee Rascal album soon after his eleventh birthday.
By the time he was 15 Nayta already knew two people involved in fatal stabbings but he didn’t want to join a gang.
In his early twenties he changed his performing name from Nayta the Kid to Nayta the King.
In UNFORGIVEN he acknowledged the pain he experienced: “This reverse Gary Coleman looking older than my years / I had a bucket list but now this bucket holding all my tears / Look at the trouble that’s followed me over years.”
Abiola Akerele, known as Nayta the King or Nayta, was just 28 when he was killed in broad daylight on December 29, 2020
Abiola Akerele, known as Nayta the King or Nayta, was just 28 when he was killed in broad daylight on December 29, 2020
Hanna Demir started seeing Nayta after she moved to London two years ago | Image: Hanna Demir
Hanna Demir started seeing Nayta after she moved to London two years ago | Image: Hanna Demir
Demir said being in gangs wouldn’t have suited him.
“People think because he’s a black male he must be related to drugs or gangs.
“That was not Nayta. He just wanted to do his music, get out of that horrible place and start a new life somewhere peaceful.
“Living in that type of area, being a black male, you are at risk every day and that’s for everyone living in these places.
“We had so many plans. We were going to travel. We were going to fix his house.
“But most of the time we were inside, cooking, eating, talking and listening to music.
“That’s why I loved spending time with him.”
Demir first suspected something was wrong when she saw a friend mention Nayta on Instagram.
#Newham
— London 999 Feed (@999London) December 29, 2020
BREAKING: A 28-year-old man has been stabbed to death in broad daylight in #EastHam.
Met Police say at 3:18pm they were called to Stondon Walk, E6.
The victim was pronounced dead in the street.
No arrests as yet.
Witnesses urged to contact 101 quoting: CAD 3667/29DEC pic.twitter.com/yZ6LWkf2p7
The crime scene of Nayta's killing on Stondon Walk, East Ham
She said her chest felt heavy.
“I started panicking. I tried to text and call. It went straight to voice message and I was in denial, refusing to believe it was him. I went outside and was crying.
“I went on his [Instagram] page and pressed the first picture and saw ‘Rest in Peace’ and I just broke down.
“I was crying outside in the cold for two hours. I couldn’t believe it because this is not how it was supposed to be. He didn’t want to be in that f***ing area, he wanted to leave. He knew how dodgy that place was and it breaks my heart.
“There’s not one minute I’m not thinking about it because it’s so messed up.”
Metropolitan police officers led by the Violent Crime Taskforce took part in the five-week operation from November 30 to January 3
At the start of the investigation into Nayta's killing Detective Inspector Joanna Yorke from the Met’s Specialist Crime Command (Homicide) said: “Our investigation is continuing at pace and we are working tirelessly to give Abiola's family the answers they deserve.
“This murder took place in daylight, in a residential area, at a time many people were in their homes. I believe there will be people who either saw, heard or know something about this incident. I urge those people to get in touch."
Four men aged 18 to 21 were charged with murdering Nayta.
Rayhan Yasin Ali, 18, Harry Ehibor, 20, Saeed Farouk, 21, and Junaid Sulaiman, 20, had a virtual hearing at the Old Bailey in January following their arrests, and will next appear on March 23.
A 17-year-old girl was arrested on suspicion of murder and released on bail until the end of January.
In late 2020 the Metropolitan Police confiscated hundreds of weapons, including 313 knives, as part of Operation Winter Nights, a bid to tackle violence in London.
Police asked anyone who witnessed Nayta's killing or who knows anything about what happened to call 101 or tweet @MetCC, quoting CAD 3667/29DEC.
Alternatively, information can be provided by calling Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
Featured Images of Nayta: Nayta Akerele/Facebook
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