The decomposed body of Justice Azuka, a member of the Anambra State House of Assembly representing Onitsha North Constituency 1, has been discovered at the 2nd Niger Bridge by a joint security team.
Azuka was abducted on December 24, 2024, along Ugwunabankpa Road, Inland Town, Onitsha.
Weeks of investigation led security operatives from Abuja to apprehend the suspects late Wednesday.
The arrested individuals later guided authorities to where they had dumped the lawmaker’s remains.
A security source confirmed to SaharaReporters the arrests, stating, “We have arrested the culprits that kidnapped and killed him. They were arrested very late last night (Wednesday) and led security operatives to the location where they dumped the corpse.”
The tragic incident has sparked mourning in Anambra, with condolences pouring in for Azuka’s family, the traditional ruler of Onitsha, Obi of Onitsha Dr. Alfred Achebe and the entire Onitsha North Constituency 1.
Meanwhile, insecurity in Onitsha remains a concern, as gunmen reportedly attempted another abduction along Awka Road on Tuesday night, firing multiple gunshots.
Anambra police spokesman Tochukwu Ikenga said further details would be made public soon.
Azuka’s killing recalls a similar case in 2022 when Okey Okoye, a lawmaker in the state assembly, was kidnapped and beheaded, with his body later found around the Nnobi axis.
Azuka, a Labour Party (LP) chieftain, had in 2023 reclaimed his mandate after a court ruling unseated Hon. Douglas Egbuna of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who was initially declared the winner of the 2023 election.
