Ajani Campbell's family pay tribute to 'force of nature' after remains found under Manchester bridge

The family of a missing Preston man whose remains have been found under a Greater Manchester bridge have described him as “a force of nature”.

Ajani Campbell was reported missing on January 25, and was last seen in Deansgate, Manchester, at 1:48am.

A skeleton found at the bottom of the concrete embankment of a railway bridge over the M67 in Hyde, Tameside, have since been identified as belonging to him.

At the time of his disappearance, Ajani was described as a ‘high risk’ missing person, and was seen running across a road in Ashton-on-Ribble.

Now, his family have issued a statement where they described him as having had “a passion for life”.

“It is with shattered hearts that we honour the memory of our beloved Ajani, who went missing on 24 January 2026,” they said in a statement.

“While the agonising search to find Ajani has come to an end, the reality of losing him has left us in a grief too deep for words.

“Ajani was a force of nature—funny, caring, and incredibly loving. He was a loving son, brother, uncle, cousin and friend. He had a passion for life that showed in everything he did, whether he was working out, exploring the great outdoors, or dropping bars and sharing his gift for rapping.

“He possessed a deeply spiritual soul that connected him to the world and the people around him in a profound way. To know Ajani was to love him, and he left an unforgettable mark on every single person he met.

“We want to express our deepest gratitude to everyone who helped search, prayed, and stood by us during this darkest chapter. Though his journey on this earth was cut devastatingly short, his light will live on forever in our hearts.

“Rest easy, our beautiful boy. You are loved beyond measure.”

Tameside Police have said they are now working “extensively” with Lancashire Constabulary to uncover what happen to Ajani after his disappearance.

They have now urged anyone with any information which could assist the investigation to come forward, including any further details about a timeline for his last movements.

A dedicated major incident portal has been set up for information to be submitted.

Police can also be contacted via 101 and quoting log number 4156 of August 3 2026, or anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Detective sergeant Ian Parker from Tameside Police said: "Our thoughts remain with Ajani's family and loved ones as they continue to come to terms with this tragic news.

“While this provides some answers for his family, our investigation remains ongoing and we are continuing to piece together Ajani's movements in the hours before he was last seen in Manchester city centre.

“We are keeping an open mind regarding the circumstances surrounding Ajani's death, and at this stage we are not ruling out any lines of enquiry.”