Following the reports of the gruesome death of a member of the Anambra State House of Assembly, Justice Azuka, after he was abducted in December, the Anambra State Police Command says its operatives, alongside the state vigilante operatives, on Thursday arrested nine suspects “actively involved” in the murder.
Nnaghe Itam, the Commissioner of Police in Anambra State, confirmed the suspects’ arrests during a news event on Friday.
Azuka, a state legislature member representing Onitsha North Constituency 1, was abducted in Onitsha on December 24, 2024.
On Thursday, a mixed security squad consisting of police and vigilantes discovered his decomposing remains on the Second Niger Bridge.
The police commissioner disclosed that two pump-action guns were recovered from the suspects following their arrest, adding that one of the suspects sustained a gunshot injury on his leg during a gun duel with the police operatives.
The arrested suspects, according to the CP include: Ugochukwu Onuorah aged 30 years, Ikemefuna Ossai aged 20 years, Ikenna Orugu aged 27 years, Chibuike Obiefuna aged 19 years, Chinonso Olisa aged 19 years, Chinedu Okoli aged 21 years, David Ojini aged 25 years and the most notorious of them, one Peter Sunday aged 20 years with a big tattoo inscription of “No peace 4 d Government” on his chest.
CP Itam also revealed that police operatives successfully arrested one Chidiebere Nwosu, a kidnap suspect in Uruagu, Nnewi, and neutralized some of his gang members who were involved in the attack on police personnel attached to the Rapid Response Squad on October 3, 2024.
“We have also neutralised over a hundred (100) notorious criminals and successfully dismantled many criminal camps in Ufuma, Eziowelle, Achalla, Ogbaru, and other parts of the state.”
He expressed gratitude to the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, for his guidance and overall support and also appreciated the governor of Anambra State, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, sister agencies, the media, residents of the state, Anambra State vigilante operatives, civil society groups, organizations and many others for their unflinching support within the months that he has spent in the state as the Commissioner of Police.
He assured that the confidence reposed in the police and other security agencies for the protection of the lives and properties of residents is not to be taken for granted.
