“We Killed Anambra LP Lawmaker Justice Azuka Because He Was Stubborn” – Suspect
By Cajetan Mmuta
The prime suspect in the December 24, 2024 kidnap and killing of Hon. Justice Azuka, a member representing Onitsha North 1 constituency at the Anambra State House of Assembly, has given reasons why members of his gang killed the lawmaker.
The 30-year-old suspect and father of one, Mr. Ugochukeu Onuoha, an indigene of Lokpanta community in Abia state said that his gang members killed Hon. Azuka the same day he was kidnapped because “he proved so stubborn,” and failed to yield to the demands of the gang when he was asked to pay N20 million as ransom.
This came as the state outgoing Commissioner of Police, CP Nnaghe Obono Itam said that nine suspects involved in the kidnap and murder of Hon Justice Azuka had been arrested following the combined efforts of operatives of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS), Anti Kidnapping Team and members of the Vigilante Service in the state.
CP Itam who paraded the nine kidnap and murder suspects as well as seven others involved in various criminal offenses, on Friday night at the command headquarters at Amawbia said that all those who kidnapped and gruesomely murdered Hon. Azuka were arrested after diligent investigations by the Police.
Speaking during the parade, Ugochukwu Onuoha stated that one Ugo Okewe from Ogbeukwu village in Idemili, was the one allegedly sponsoring them with guns and other items to facilitate their illegal business.
He explained that Hon. Azuka was kidnapped after their first target escaped following a hot chase as they were going into Onitsha town, adding that it was when they were returning that one of the gang members Ekene Oreogwu suggested that they should abduct the lawmaker as he was at the entrance gate and about to enter his residential building along Ugwunabamkpa area of the commercial town.
“We kidnapped the man (lawmaker), we didn’t shoot him; it was only beating we gave him and he died.”
On how they kidnapped the LP legislator, the suspect maintained that they stopped and “surrendered him with guns in front of the entrance gate as he was about to enter his compound, we entered his car and dove off with him.”
Also, on why they murdered Azuka, he said, “We killed him because the man was stubborn; we asked for N20 million ransom and he didn’t want to cooperate. He told us N5 million and he didn’t even give us any money before he died. I was shot because I wanted to run away; I feel pain now.”
Speaking about his family and marital status the suspect said, “I have a wife and one child. My wife is not aware I am into kidnapping business. Before now I learnt POP, Screadng and Painting work but I went into kidnapping because there is no work to do.”
The suspect added that he had only two gang members out of the nine gang members paraded by the state police command.
Other suspects involved in the kidnap and death of the LP lawmaker paraded alongside Ugochukwu Onuora include; Delta state-born 20-year-old Ikemefule Ossai, Ikene Orugu aged 27 years (Ebonyi state), Peter Sunday (20 yrs, Cross River state), 26 year old Chibuike Obiefuna (Imo state), Prince Kalu (19 yrs from Abia state), Chinonso Olisa aged 19 yrs and from Delta state, 21 yr old Chinedu Okoli from Imo state and David Ojini aged 25 years from Anambra state.
CP Itam explained that six out of the nine suspects confessed to the heinous murder of Hon. Azuka.
“We are aware of the kidnapping of a member of the State House of Assembly on the 24th of December 2024, Hon. Justice Azuka; the police have been working with the community and those who are volunteering information and even though it’s hard to say that the honourable member was gruesomely murdered by those who kidnapped him, we have to say that all those who are involved in the gruesome murder of Justice Azuka, have been arrested.”
He disclosed that the most notorious amongst the kidnap gang is one Peter Sunday, aged 20, who has an inscription of ‘No Peace for the Government’ on his chest,” adding that what’s worrisome, disheartening and unfortunate is the age brackets of the hoodlums who are neck deep in criminality.
“In the early hours of yesterday (Thursday), information and intelligence from both public-spirited individuals which is why we keep insisting that we take back our state, the men of the Rapid Response Squad and Anti Kidnapping Squad working with members of the Anambra State Vigilante Group (AVG) stormed the criminal hideouts with credible intelligence arrested those who abducted the lawmaker.”
According to Itam, the teams had earlier recovered the decomposing body of the member representing Onitsha North somewhere at a bush near the Second Nigeria bridge at Onitsha.
“Some of the suspects interrogated confessed their active involvement in the crime operation; some of the firearms they used were recovered. When we engaged them in their hideouts, of course, they fired our men but they were overpowered and arrested,” he stated.
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