The Anambra State Police Command has successfully re-arrested a key suspect in the kidnapping and murder of Hon. Justice Azuka, a lawmaker who represented Onitsha South 1 state constituency in the Anambra State House of Assembly.
The suspect, identified as Ikemefuna Ossai, was apprehended on May 7, 2025, in Asaba, Delta State, following what police described as a "painstaking and intelligence-led operation" that tracked him across multiple states and even into a neighboring West African country.
According to SP Tochukwu Ikenga, the command's spokesperson, Ossai sustained a gunshot wound to the leg during the arrest when he attempted to escape from police operatives.
"Upon sighting the operatives, the suspect attempted to escape arrest but was swiftly subdued," Ikenga stated in the police report.
Background of the Case
Hon. Justice Azuka was abducted on Christmas Eve last year. Nearly two months after his kidnapping, his remains were discovered near the Second Nigeria Bridge. While the initial suspects were arrested, two of them, including Ossai, later escaped when they were being led to the home of another suspect.
The escape had caused significant public outrage, with many accusing the police of complicity in the matter.
Police Response and Ongoing Investigation
The Commissioner of Police has acknowledged the operational lapses that led to the suspect's earlier escape and has expressed regret over the incident during briefings with the late lawmaker's family and Anambra State House of Assembly leadership.
"Actionable intelligence obtained from the suspect is currently aiding ongoing operations. The command has intensified efforts to apprehend the remaining fugitive and dismantle the criminal network responsible for this heinous crime," Ikenga explained.
The Anambra State Police Command has reiterated its commitment to bringing all perpetrators to justice and ensuring the safety and security of residents of Anambra State.
The re-arrest of Ossai marks a significant development in the high-profile case that has drawn attention across the state since the lawmaker's abduction and subsequent murder.
