The Anambra State Police Command has arrested nine suspects linked to the gruesome murder of the lawmaker representing Onitsha North 1 Constituency in the Anambra State House of Assembly, Justice Azuka.
Recall that Azuka was kidnapped on December 24, 2024, along Ugwunaobankpa Road in Inland Town, Onitsha, while returning home for Christmas.
However, in the early hours of Thursday, the decomposing body the lawmaker was discovered by the roadside near the Second Niger Bridge.
The news of the arrest of the suspects was contained in a press statement by the Commissioner of Police in Anambra, CP Nnaghe Itam, on Friday.
He disclosed that a joint security team comprising police operatives and Anambra Vigilante Group (AVG) personnel had launched a mission to rescue the abducted lawmaker. He, however, added that only the lifeless body of the lawmaker was found.
Addressing newsmen, Itam said, “Our interaction today is to highlight some of the notable breakthroughs recorded by the Anambra State Police Command on major incidents in the State within the period under review.”
“Many of you are aware of the gruesome murder of Justice Azuka, the Anambra State House of Assembly member representing Onitsha North Constituency 1. Who was abducted on December 24, 2024, in Onitsha.
“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. (May his soul rest in perfect peace.)”
The CP added that 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,” he said.
He gave the names of the suspects as Ugochukwu Onuorah (30); Ikemefuna Ossai (20); Ikenna Orugu (27) and Chibuike Obiefuna (19). Others are Chinonso Olisa (19); Chinedu Okoli (21); David Ojini (25); and Peter Sunday (20). Itam described Sunday described as the most notorious. This is even as he had a tattoo on his chest reading “No peace 4 d Government.”
The Commissioner also revealed that the command had successfully arrested “one Chidiebere Nwosu, a kidnap suspect in Uruagu, Nnewi. The police also neutralized 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,” the CP added.
While reeling on the achievement, Itam extended his appreciation to the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, “for his guidance and overall support,”. He also thanked the Governor of Anambra State, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo and sister security agencies.
The CP did not leave out the media, residents of the State, Anambra State Vigilante operatives, Civil Society Groups and other organizations. He thanked them for their unflinching support within the nine months that he has spent in the State as the Commissioner of Police.
source: Punch
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