The lifeless body of Justice Azuka, the member representing Onitsha North 1 Constituency in the Anambra State House of Assembly, has been found near the Second Niger Bridge.
Azuka was kidnapped on December 24, 2024, along Ugwunaobankpa Road in Inland Town, Onitsha, while returning home for Christmas. Witnesses said he was abducted at gunpoint in a swift operation that lasted less than five minutes.
The spokesperson for the Anambra State Police Command, Tochukwu Ikenga, confirmed the discovery on Thursday. He said a joint security team found the decomposing body during a routine patrol.
“In the early hours of today, 6/2/2025, at the Second Niger Bridge, the Joint Security Team comprising Police and AVG operatives, on a mission to rescue abducted Hon. Azuka, regrettably found his lifeless body at the scene,” Ikenga said.
“As soon as I get more details, I will keep you updated, as the joint security team has taken over the scene and the operation is ongoing for the possible arrest of the suspects involved, please,” he added.
Azuka, a chieftain of the Labour Party, reclaimed his mandate following a court ruling that nullified the victory of Douglas Egbuna of the Peoples Democratic Party, who was initially declared the winner of the 2023 election.
Others kidnapped alongside Azuka, including Ben Ezemma, popularly known as ‘Big Ben,’ and Obiora Agbasimelo, the Labour Party’s 2021 governorship candidate, are still missing as of the time of this report.
