The lifeless body of Justice Azuka, the member representing Onitsha North 1 Constituency in the Anambra State House of Assembly, has been found by security operatives near the Second Niger Bridge.
Azuka was reportedly kidnapped on December 24, 2024, along Ugwunaobankpa Road in Inland Town, Onitsha, while returning home for Christmas.
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, saying a joint security team found the decomposing corpse during a routine patrol.
Ikenga said, “In the early hours of today, 6/2/2025 at the second Niger Bridge, the Joint Security Team comprising of Police and AVG Operatives on a mission to rescue abducted Hon. Azuka, Honourable State House of Assembly member representing Onitsha North, regrettably found his lifeless body at the scene.
“As soon as I get more details, I will keep you updated, as the joint security team have taken over the scene and operation is ongoing for the possible arrest of the suspects involved, please.”
The lawmaker, 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.
In a related event, bandits on Thursday reportedly kidnapped the former Director General of the National Youth Service Corps, (NYSC), Brgd. Gen. Maharazu Tsiga (retd.), in Tsiga village, Bakori Local Government Area of Katsina State, in the early hours of Thursday.
The bandits also killed one person and abducted at least nine others, even as they were said to have ransacked several homes, carting away valuables.
The bandits attacked at 12.30 am on Thursday, as eyewitness reports have it that the armed hoodlums stormed the community, shooting sporadically to scare residents.
Our correspondent contacted the Katsina State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Abubakar Sadiq, to confirm the attack but said he would give feedback shortly.
“I am yet to be briefed on the facts of the reports. I’ll get back to you as soon as I get the details, please,” he said.