By Ayorinde Oluokun/Abuja
Anambra Police Command has explained how two among the suspects arrested for kidnapping and killing of Justice Azuka, a member of the Anambra House of Assembly, from its officers.
Anambra Police Command spokesperson Tochukwu Ikenga, disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday night.
Ikenga, in the statement explained that the suspects escaped from police operatives who had taken them out for an investigation to arrest a receiver of vehicles used by the criminal gang.
He said, “Preliminary information reveals that following the confession of the criminal gang, two of the suspects assisting the Police Investigating Officers in an operation to arrest the receiver and recover the operational vehicles that the gang used in their deadly activities, escaped,” he said.
Ikenga noted that during the onslaught operation by the operatives, the suspect (the receiver) was arrested and two vehicles suspected to have been snatched from the unsuspecting members of the public were recovered.
The police spokesperson said unfortunately, the other two suspects fled the scene.
He explained that the Commissioner of Police in the state, CP Ikioye Orutugu, had directed a disciplinary action against the officers for their negligent act.
According to him, the Commissioner of Police, CP Orutugu, on receipt of the report today, being Feb. 18, about the escape of the two suspects involved in the murder of late Justice Azuka, Member Representing Onitsha 1 Constituency in the State House of Assembly.
“He has consequently deployed both human, operational and intelligence assets of the Command for the re-arrest of the suspects and directed immediate disciplinary action against the Officers found wanton in this regard.
He further said that the Command was on the offensive against every criminal element in the state and that efforts were in top gear to ensure that the suspects were re-arrested and justice served.
Recall that the Anambra lawmaker was abducted on 24 December 2024 in Onitsha.
However, his remains were discovered by joint security team, on 6 February at Second Niger Bridge in Onitsha.
The Police had earlier recovered his vehicle also in Onitsha.
The police in the state later confirmed that nine suspected killers of the lawmaker had been arrested.
