The decomposing body of Hon. Justice Azuka, a member of the Anambra State House of Assembly, has been discovered beneath the 2nd Niger Bridge by a combined security team. His abduction and gruesome murder mark yet another dark chapter in the growing security crisis plaguing Anambra State.
Azuka, who represented Onitsha North Constituency 1 under the Labour Party (LP), was kidnapped on December 24, 2024, while returning home via Ugwunaobankpa Road in Inland Town, Onitsha. Eyewitnesses reported that the armed assailants executed the abduction in a swift and coordinated attack that lasted less than five minutes.
The late lawmaker had recently regained his mandate following a court ruling that ousted Hon. Douglas Egbuna of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who was initially declared the winner of the 2023 election. His political journey, marked by resilience and legal battles, has now been tragically cut short by unidentified gunmen.
A security source, speaking to Sahara Reporters, confirmed that the perpetrators have been arrested and led authorities to the site where they dumped Azuka’s body.
> “We have arrested the culprits that kidnapped and killed him. They were apprehended late Wednesday night and later took security operatives to the location where they abandoned the corpse,” the source disclosed.
The gruesome discovery has sent shockwaves through the political landscape and the Onitsha community, with many mourning the loss of a man described as a dedicated public servant.
> “It is sad and tragic. What a huge loss. May his gentle soul rest in perfect peace. Our condolences go to his family, the traditional ruler of Onitsha, Obi of Onitsha, Dr. Alfred Achebe, and the entire people of Onitsha North Constituency 1.”
The murder of a sitting lawmaker underscores the worsening insecurity in Anambra, where criminal gangs continue to operate with alarming audacity. Just two nights before Azuka’s body was found, gunmen launched a brazen attack along Awka Road in central Onitsha, firing several gunshots during an attempted abduction.
Meanwhile, efforts to reach the Anambra State Police Command for an official statement have been met with silence. SP Tochukwu Ikenga, the command’s spokesperson, requested questions be sent via text, but as of the time of filing this report, no response had been received.
Azuka’s assassination has heightened fears among residents and political figures in the state, raising urgent calls for the government to tackle the deepening security crisis before more lives are lost.
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