9 suspects arrested in connection with Anambra lawmaker’s killing

Police authorities in Anambra State have apprehended nine suspects in connection to the brutal killing of Justice Azuka, the lawmaker representing Onitsha North 1 Constituency in the Anambra State House of Assembly.

News Band reported that Azuka was abducted on December 24, 2024, along Ugwunaobankpa Road in Inland Town, Onitsha, while returning home for Christmas.

His decomposing body was later found by the roadside near the Second Niger Bridge in the wee hours of Thursday.

However, while addressing newsmen during the parade of the nine suspects on Friday, the Commissioner of Police in Anambra, CP Nnaghe Itam, revealed that a joint security taskforce comprising police operatives and Anambra Vigilante Group (AVG) operatives had launched an operation to rescue the abducted lawmaker, only to find his lifeless body.

Mr. 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,” Itam said.

“Many of you are aware of the gruesome murder of Justice Azuka, the State House of Assembly member representing Onitsha North Constituency 1 in the Anambra State House of Assembly 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.)”

Speaking further, the commissioner 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.”

Moreover, the arrested suspects include: 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 police chief also revealed that the command had successfully 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”, he added.

CP Itam extended his appreciation to the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, “for his guidance and overall support,” and also thanked “the Governor of Anambra State, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, sister agencies, the media, residents of the State, Anambra State Vigilante operatives, Civil Society Groups, Organisations, and many others for their unflinching support within the nine months that I have spent in the State as the Commissioner of Police.”

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