The Anambra State Police Command has arrested nine suspects linked to the murder
of the lawmaker representing Onitsha North 1 Constituency in the Anambra State House of Assembly, Justice Azuka.
The arrested suspects are Ugochukwu Onuorah (30); Ikemefuna Ossai (20); Ikenna Orugu (27); Chibuike Obiefuna (19); Chinonso Olisa (19); Chinedu Okoli (21); David Ojini (25); and Peter Sunday (20), described as the most notorious, with a tattoo on his chest reading “No peace 4 d Government.”
The state Commissioner of Police Nnaghe Itam, revealed this on Friday, saying a joint security team of police operatives and Anambra Vigilante Group (AVG) had launched a manhunt to rescue the abducted lawmaker, only to find his lifeless body.
“This serious incident motivated the Command to go the extra mile in intelligence gathering and discreet investigation.
“In the early hours of February 6, 2025, at the Second Niger Bridge, the joint security team comprising the police and AVG operatives, on a mission to rescue the abducted State House of Assembly member representing Onitsha North, found his lifeless body at the scene.”
Itam said “on the same day the body was discovered, the command operatives in a joint operation with Anambra State vigilante operatives, acting on intelligence-led information, arrested nine suspects actively involved in this unfortunate incident and recovered two pump-action guns.
“One of the suspects sustained a gunshot injury in his leg during a gun duel with the Police operatives.”
The Commissioner also said “the police had arrested one Chidiebere Nwosu, a kidnap suspect in Uruagu, Nnewi, and neutralised some of his gang members that were involved in the attack of Police personnel attached to the Rapid Response Squad after a successful arrest on 3rd October 2024.
“We have also neutralized more than 100 notorious criminals and successfully destroyed many criminal camps in Ufuma, Eziowelle, Achalla, Ogbaru, and many other places in the State.”
Azuka was kidnapped on December 24, 2024, along Ugwunaobankpa Road in Inland Town, Onitsha, while returning home for Christmas.
His decomposing body was discovered by the roadside near the Second Niger Bridge in the early hours of Thursday.
