By Cajetan Mmuta, Awka
The Anambra State Police Command has declared that it is responsible for the operational lapses that led to the escape of two out of eleven suspected linked with the kidnap and murder of Hon. Justice Azuka, the Labour Party (LP) lawmaker representing Onitsha North Constituency 1 at the State House of Assembly.
Recall that Azuka was abducted by a gang of gunmen at about 9pm along Ugwunabamkpa road in the town area of the commercial of Onitsha on December 24, 2024, and was killed the same day.
Operatives of the state security agencies recovered the decomposing corpse of the lawmaker near a bush close to the Second River Niger Bridge in Onitsha.
Two out of a total of eleven suspects arrested by the police were reported to have escaped recently at Obosi area in Idemili South local government area when a team of policemen took them to recover two vehicles belonging to the late lawmaker from a receiver of stolen cars.
The receiver of the lawmaker’s vehicles, whose names were not mentioned, was said to have taken to his heels when he saw policemen with the two suspects.
Efforts by the police officers to chase the fleeing receiver of stolen vehicles led the two suspects to escape on February 8, 2025.
The escape of the two suspects, who were said to be the drivers of the kidnap gang, had stirred controversies traded on the immediate past leadership of the state police command under CP Nnaghe Obono Itam.
CP Ikioye Orutugu had since sacked the embattled commander of the state Rapid Response Squad (RRS), Awkuzu, CSP Ifeanyi Iburu, over the escape of two out of the eleven suspects.
It was learnt that CSP Iburu and his team of nine security operatives coordinating investigations into the Anambra Lawmaker’s murder had arrived at the state police command headquarters in the early hours of Wednesday from the Awkuzu base of RRS on the order of CP Orutugu.
Orutugu was said to have warned that any personnel of the Command found culpable in the escape of the two kidnap and murder suspects would face strict disciplinary action.
The names of the two fleeing suspects are Ikemefuna Ossai from Delta State and Chinedu Okoli from Imo State, respectively.
The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the state command, SP Toochukwu Ikenga, in a statement in Awka yesterday, said the Command has “taken full responsibility for the operational lapses of our
Operatives regarding the escape of the two suspects involved in the gruesome murder of Hon Justice Azuka, member representing Onitsha North 1 constituency.”
He said, “The Command hereby reiterates that among other necessary security measures ongoing by the command to improve safety in the State, it shall not rest until the fleeing suspects are re-arrested and all those involved brought to book.”
He said, “Given the above, in the spirit of transparency, the Command has briefed Ndi Anambra and the general public, reaffirming the Command’s commitment to keeping residents informed about the evolving security situation in the State.
“Also, while noting the right of individuals or groups for freedom of speech, the command urges relevant stakeholders to exercise restraint on the comments/reactions to avoid inciting one another and prevent the escalation of tensions.”
“Most importantly, to ensure that the investigation remains impartial, thereby upholding the principles of justice.”
