The lifeless body of Hon. Justice Azuka, an Anambra State House of Assembly member who was abducted on Christmas Eve, has been discovered in a decomposed state near the 2nd Niger Bridge.
A combined security team uncovered the remains following an ongoing investigation into his disappearance.
Azuka was taken at gunpoint on December 24, 2024, while traveling along Ugwunaobankpa Road in Inland Town, Onitsha. His abduction was swift, lasting only a few minutes before the attackers fled with him.
A strong figure in the Labour Party (LP), Azuka had recently regained his legislative seat after a court nullified the victory of Hon. Douglas Egbuna of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who was initially declared the winner of the 2023 election.
A security source revealed that those responsible for his abduction and murder were apprehended on Wednesday night. During interrogation, the suspects led law enforcement officers to the location where they had abandoned his remains.
“It is a devastating and painful loss,” the source remarked. “We extend our condolences to his family, the Obi of Onitsha, Dr. Alfred Achebe, and the entire Onitsha North Constituency 1.”
This tragic incident highlights the growing insecurity in the region. Just two nights earlier, on Tuesday, gunmen attempted another abduction along Awka Road in central Onitsha, firing multiple gunshots during the attack.