Police: Two suspected killers of Anambra lawmaker, Azuka, have escaped

The Anambra State Police Command has announced that two suspects involved in the kidnapping and murder of the state House of Assembly member, Hon. Justice Azuka, have escaped from its custody.

Superintendent Tochukwu Ikenga, the State Police Public Relations Officer, confirmed the development in a statement released on Tuesday night.

NAIJAONPOINT earlier reported that on December 24, 2024, gunmen abducted Justice Azuka, the lawmaker representing Onitsha 1 Constituency in State House of Assembly. After weeks of intense search, a joint security team discovered his decomposing body on February 6 at the Second Niger Bridge in Onitsha.

Following investigations, police arrested nine suspects in connection with the murder. According to Ikenga the escape occurred when police operatives took the two suspects on an operation to apprehend a receiver of stolen vehicles linked to the criminal gang.

On the escape of the suspects, Ikenga disclosed that the incident occurred during an operation to apprehend the receiver of stolen vehicles used by the gang in their criminal activities.

Although the receiver was arrested and two vehicles were recovered, the two suspects managed to flee the scene.

The statement added that the Commissioner of Police, CP Ikioye Orutugu, has deployed human, operational, and intelligence assets to ensure the suspects are re-arrested and justice is served.

The police assured the public that it is intensifying efforts to locate and re-arrest the suspects. He also emphasized that any officers found responsible for the suspects’ escape would face disciplinary action.