Anambra Lawmaker Kidnapped: Vehicle Found

Anambra Lawmaker Kidnapped: Vehicle Found

The Police Command in Anambra State has announced the recovery of the vehicle belonging to Justice Azuka, the lawmaker representing the Onitsha North Constituency in the Anambra State House of Assembly, who was kidnapped on Tuesday night…READ MORE…

Azuka was taken by unknown assailants along Ugwunapampa Road in Inland Town, Onitsha, while returning home for the Christmas holiday.

In a statement released on Thursday, the spokesperson for the Command, Tochukwu Ikenga, confirmed that police officers from the Inland Town Division recovered the abandoned vehicle during ongoing rescue efforts.

As of now, Azuka’s location remains unknown, as the kidnappers have not yet made contact with his family.

Ikenga stated, “In a persistent operation, police officers from the Inland Town Division recovered the vehicle belonging to Honourable Justice Azuka, who was abducted on December 24, 2024, at around 9:20 PM while heading home along Ugwunapampa Road, Onitsha.

“The vehicle was discovered at Upper Iweka Road by the rescue team. The Commissioner of Police, Nnaghe Obono Itam, has instructed the team to enhance their efforts to secure the Honourable member’s release. Updates will be provided as the situation develops.”

The abduction has caused alarm in Onitsha, with residents questioning the effectiveness of the numerous security checkpoints in the area.

A nearby resident, who identified himself as Somto, recounted, “The gunmen followed the lawmaker’s vehicle, blocked it, and forcibly took him away while one of them drove off in his car.

“These kidnappings, despite the many security checkpoints along this route, are alarming. We are left wondering if these checkpoints are merely for extorting and intimidating innocent travelers. Security personnel must take action.”

This isn’t the first instance of lawmakers being targeted in Anambra State. In 2022, Okechukwu Okoye, the legislator for Aguata Constituency 1, was kidnapped and later gruesomely murdered, with his head found discarded in a community, underscoring the growing insecurity in the region.

Residents and community leaders are urging the state government and security forces to ramp up efforts to secure Azuka’s release and prevent future incidents of this nature.

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