Kidnapped Anambra Lawmaker, Justice Azuka, Found Dead Near Second Niger Bridge

By Sofiat Adenekan

The kidnapped member of the Anambra State House of Assembly, Hon. Justice Azuka, has been found dead weeks after his abduction.

Azuka, who represented Onitsha North 1 Constituency under the Labour Party (LP), was kidnapped at gunpoint on December 24, 2024, along Ugwunaobankpa Road, Inland Town, Onitsha, while returning home for Christmas.

His abduction was swift, lasting less than five minutes.

Security operatives discovered his decomposing body near the Second Niger Bridge during a routine patrol.

The Anambra State Police Command’s spokesperson, Tochukwu Ikenga, confirmed the development on Thursday, stating that a joint security team from Abuja had arrested the suspects late Wednesday.

The arrested individuals later led authorities to the site where they dumped Azuka’s remains.

While details remain sketchy, Ikenga noted that investigations are ongoing and further updates will be provided in due course.

Azuka’s killing marks the second high-profile murder of a sitting lawmaker in Anambra State in recent years.

In 2022, Okey Okoye, popularly known as “Okey Di Ok” from Aguata, was abducted and later beheaded, with his remains discovered around the Nnobi axis.

The South-East region has witnessed escalating violence in recent years, with attacks on public facilities and multiple killings despite government and security assurances.

The push for secession has further intensified tensions, though no group has claimed responsibility for the rising wave of insecurity.