Police deny complicity in escape of murder suspects in Anambra as LP kicks

Their victim was Lustice Azuka, LP lawmaker at the State Assembly

BrandPower Magazine 1 day agoLast Updated: 20/02/2025

2 minutes read

Police deny complicity in escape of murder suspects in Anambra as LP kicks

The Police Command in Anambra has denied any complicity in the escape of two suspects allegedly linked to the murder of Mr. Justice Azuka, lawmaker at the State Assembly.

Azuka, Labour Party (LP) lawmaker was representing Onitsha-1 Constituency before his life was cutshort by suspected kidnappers.

SP Tochukwu Ikenga, Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state made this known on Thursday in a statement in Awka.

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According to Ikenga, the police cannot be the same people who risk their lives with other security operatives to arrest these criminals involved in the gruesome murder of Hon. Justice Azuka and still turn around to sabotage the process.

“Remember that we had earlier paraded these suspects for residents of the state and the world to see.

“We are owning up to our responsibility, no doubt. Nevertheless our main focus now, while we are still interrogating the officers involved in these operational lapses to face serious sanctions, is to re-arrest the suspects on the run.”

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the two suspects were among others arrested recently by the joint security force over the murder of the lawmaker, before they fled from police custody during an operation to apprehend a suspect also linked to the crime.

Labour Party reacts…

Meanwhile, the Labour Party caucus of the Anambra State House of Assembly has accused the state police command of orchestrating the escape of two suspects arrested in connection with the abduction and murder of the late lawmaker, Hon. Justice Azuka.

The Labour Party lawmakers asserted that, to facilitate the suspects’ escape and deny the late lawmaker justice, the police deliberately refrained from taking any action to rearrest the fugitives after more than a week of their escape.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, the lawmakers making these allegations included Hon. Barr. Jude Ifeanyi Umennajiego, Hon. Mazi Paul Obu, Hon. Fred Ezenwa, Hon. Barr Pat Okafor, Hon. Tochukwu Udemezue, Hon. Nigeria Mbachu, and Hon. Nkechi Ogbuefi.

They stated that the manner in which the suspects escaped from the custody of the Police Rapid Response Squad (RRS) and the police’s nonchalant handling of the situation confirm their suspicions that the late lawmaker’s murder was a political assassination.

“Recall that Hon. Justice Azuka was abducted on 24th of December, 2024 at Ugwunabankpa in Onitsha North Local Government Area, Anambra State.

“After a strenuous search spanning over 46 days, the body of Hon. Justice was recovered and his abductors and murderers were equally arrested by men of Agunaechemba and handed over to the police, specifically, the members of the Police Rapid Response Squad (aka RRS).

“Everybody was waiting for justice to be served on his abductors and murderers.

“Interestingly, the Police Public Relations Officer issued a press release indicating that two of the suspects who murdered Hon Justice escaped in controversial circumstances,”