•••Police Intensifies Search, Recovers vehicle
By Kamsi Anayo, Awka
Gunmen have kidnapped a member of the Anambra State House of Assembly, Hon. Justice Azuka, representing Onitsha North I Constituency,
Hon. Azuka was kidnapped at 9.20 p.m on Dec. 24, the eve of Christmas along the Ugwunapampa Road in Onitsha North Local Government Area of the state.
The lawmaker, who is of the Labour Party, just recently regained his mandate as a lawmaker after the court recently affirmed him as the winner of the 2023 election in the constituency.
He won against his People’s Democratic Party (PDP) opponent, Douglas Egbuna, who was initially declared winner by INEC.
It was gathered that the abductors are yet to make any contact to the family of the lawmaker since his abduction.
The Network also gathered that his phone number has not been connecting.
SP Ikenga Tochukwu, Spokesman of the State Police Command while confirming the abduction, said that police operatives attached to the Inland Town Divison, Onitsha have recovered the lawmaker’s vehicle.
He further noted that the Command was already making efforts to secure his release and also apprehend the abductors.
According to him, the Commissioner of Police, CP Nnaghe Obono Itam has charged the deployed rescue team to intensify efforts for the possible rescue of the honourable member.
He said: “Following an intense ongoing operation, police operatives attached to the Inland Town Divison have recovered the vehicle of Mr Justice Azuka, Honourable State House of Assembly member representing Onitsha North Constituency, who was kidnapped on 24/12/2024 by 9:20pm, while returning home at Ugwunapampa road, Onitsha by yet unidentified persons.
“The separate rescue team sighted the abandoned vehicle at Upper Iweka Road,” Ikenga added.
It would be recalled that another lawmaker in the state who represented the Aguata Constituency I in the State House of Assembly, Hon. Okechukwu Okoye was similary abducted by unidentified gunmen on May 21 2022.
The Lawmaker’s head was, however, later found where it was mounted somewhere in Amichi, by the gunmen who beheaded him six days after his abduction.
The lawmaker was killed alongside his aide, Cyril Chiegboka, who was abducted together with him along Aguluzigbo Road in Anaocha Local Government Area of the state.
