Family unable to bury stabbed teen near home 'due to threats from gang members'

19 May 2023 , 19:41

1130     0

Jordan Kukabu, 18, known as Jordan, was stabbed to death near Dagenham Heathway Tube station

A teenager who was stabbed to death won't be buried near his family home due to "threats" being made to his family by gang members, his uncle has claimed.

Wazabakana Elenda Jordan Kukabu, 18, known as Jordan, was stabbed to death near Dagenham Heathway Tube station in east London, on May 5.

Jordan's uncle, Michel Pongo, is a Barking and Dagenham councillor and paid tribute to his nephew the following day on Twitter, warning anyone involved in gangs to "drop your knife" and quit "before it is too late".

At a council meeting last night (May 17), Mr Pongo told the chamber his family is unable to bury Jordan in Barking and Dagenham due to threats that have been made to his cousin, reports MyLondon

He said: "Do we know how many gangs there are in the London borough of Barking and Dagenham My nephew will not be buried [here] because my cousin has received threats from a lot of people, so there are gangs out there that are running this borough."

Teen 'kept as slave, starved and beaten' sues adoptive parents and authorities

Wazabakana Elenda Jordan Kukabu, 18, known as Jordan, was stabbed to death near Dagenham Heathway Tube station (Shutterstock / Terence J Allington)

He also told the chamber that after his nephew died he met with five bereaved parents who had lost a child to a murder.

Mr Pongo said: "All of them actually [told] me that kids are [preyed and watched on] at the age of 11 in the borough, can I just ask Cllr Syed Ghani is there any measures that the council will put in place to prevent kids from joining gangs?"

Responding to Mr Pongo, Mr Ghani who is the council's cabinet member for enforcement and community safety, said: "Our thoughts and prayers are with the deceased, yes we are very sorry and this is something that gangs do."

He went on to say that the Lost Hours campaign, which was set up by the council, police and youth services to tackle the rise of serious youth violence in the borough, has been "very important" in an attempt to clamp down on gang culture.

Barking and Dagenham councillor Michel Pongo speaking at a council meeting

Mr Ghani added: "In terms of prevention and what we are doing, the Lost Hour campaign is one of the things.

"Yesterday I had a meeting with the chief executive and Ch Supt Stuart Bell [of the East Area], we talked about [putting] a [knife] archway in the station and we've talked about knife amnesty, this is something that you will see and [there will be] more visible policing in our markets and our stations.

"This is not just our priority - gangs and knife crime - this is the Mayor of London's priority as well. So we need more resources, more money, more things but but we are working on that."

Three males aged 16 and 17 and Michael Tommy-Mgagba, of Essex, have all been charged with murder, attempted murder and possession of an offensive weapon.

Ruby Gregory