Search still on as police recovers vehicle of Kidnapped Anambra lawmaker

The Anambra State Police Command has recovered the vehicle of Justice Azuka, the lawmaker representing Onitsha North Constituency in the Anambra State House of Assembly, who was abducted on Tuesday night.

Azuka was kidnapped by unidentified gunmen along Ugwunapampa Road, Inland Town, Onitsha, while returning home for the Christmas holiday.

In a press statement on Thursday, the Command’s spokesperson, Tochukwu Ikenga, confirmed that police operatives attached to the Inland Town Division recovered the abandoned vehicle during an ongoing rescue operation.

However, Azuka’s whereabouts remain unknown as the kidnappers are yet to contact his family.

Ikenga said, “Following an intense ongoing operation, police operatives attached to the Inland Town Division have recovered the vehicle of Honourable Justice Azuka, representing Onitsha North Constituency, who was kidnapped on December 24, 2024, at 9:20 pm while returning home along Ugwunapampa Road, Onitsha.

“The abandoned vehicle was sighted at Upper Iweka Road by the rescue team. The Commissioner of Police, Nnaghe Obono Itam, has charged the deployed team to intensify efforts for the possible rescue of the Honourable member. Further developments will be communicated.”

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

A resident near the scene of the incident, identified only as Somto, recounted, “The gunmen trailed the lawmaker’s vehicle, double-crossed it, and whisked him away while one of them drove off in his car.

“These kidnappings, despite the many security checkpoints along the road, are worrisome. We wonder if these checkpoints exist only for extortion and intimidation of innocent road users. The security operatives need to address this.”

This incident is not the first time lawmakers in Anambra State have been targeted. In 2022, Okechukwu Okoye, the lawmaker representing Aguata Constituency 1, was abducted and gruesomely murdered. Okoye’s head was later found dumped in a community, a chilling reminder of the escalating insecurity in the state.

Residents and stakeholders have called on the state government and security agencies to intensify efforts to secure the release of Azuka and prevent future occurrences.