Ilford rappers murder: Four jailed for murdering pair in gang revenge

(Clockwise from top left) Ayaanle Ali Adan, Zain Mirza, Chibiuke Ohanweh and Mahad Gouled have been jailed for life with a minimum term of 38 years

Four men have been jailed for murdering two rappers who were stabbed and shot in a gang-related revenge attack.

Saydi Sheikh, 23, and Zakariya Mohamed, 31, were discovered fatally wounded at a house in east London in October 2022.

A third man was shot in the head but survived, while two others ran and hid.

Zain Mirza, 21, of Newham, Ayaanle Ali Adan, 20, of Barking, Mahad Gouled, 22, of Enfield, and Chibiuke Ohanweh, 21, of Romford, were handed life sentences with a minimum term of 38 years.

They were all convicted of two counts of murder and two of attempted murder.

During sentencing at the Old Bailey, Judge Mark Lucraft KC said the attack in Ilford was "horrific" and that the raid was "very well orchestrated and planned".

"This is, all too sadly, yet another example of gang rivalry and violence played out on the streets of London," he said.

Statements from the victims' families, read in court, said the killings had left them "shaken to the core" and had cast a "dark shadow".

The gang raid took place at an address in Henley Road, Ilford

The court heard that Mirza "procured" the murders in revenge for the killing of his brother in 2019.

Police and paramedics found a "scene of bloody carnage" when they arrived at the property in Henley Road on 25 October 2022, jurors heard at the trial.

Mr Sheikh was stabbed 28 times and shot four times, while Mr Mohammed was stabbed five times and shot at least seven times.

A third man, Khalid Khalid, who managed to survive, was shot in the face, with the bullet passing through his head.

At least 48 shots were fired within the house, the court was told.

A fourth man, Ali Sheikh, escaped from the back of the house with minor injuries, while a fifth man, Zachary Abdi, was upstairs when the killings happened and went undetected as he hid himself behind a bed.

Saydi Sheikh, who rapped under the name Giddy, was one of the two victims

Minutes after the attack a white Mitsubishi Outlander, used by the attackers, was set alight at nearby Ronnie Lane.

Clothing and DNA found in the car helped police identify the gunmen.

The four attackers were also convicted of and sentenced for perverting the course of justice for setting fire to the car used in the attack.

A fifth defendant, Zakarie Mohamad, 19, of Kensington, was sentenced to four years' detention at a young offenders institution for perverting the course of justice for his role in destroying the vehicle.

He had been cleared of murder and attempted murder.

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