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The Anambra State Police Command has re-arrested Ikemefuna Ossai, a suspect in the kidnapping and gruesome murder of the late Hon. Justice Azuka, who represented Onitsha 1 Constituency in the Anambra State House of Assembly.
The lawmaker was abducted by gunmen in Inland Town, Onitsha, on December 24, 2024. His decomposed body was later recovered by a joint security team on February 6, 2025, beneath the Second Niger Bridge in Onitsha. Nine suspects were initially arrested in connection with the crime; however, two managed to escape from custody.
In a statement released on May 13, the spokesperson for the Anambra State Police Command, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, confirmed that one of the escapees, Ikemefuna Ossai, was re-arrested following a painstaking, intelligence-led operation.
“After evading capture across several Nigerian states and even crossing into a neighbouring West African country, the suspect was eventually apprehended on May 7, 2025, in Asaba, Delta State. Upon sighting the operatives, he attempted to flee but was quickly subdued, sustaining a gunshot wound to the leg in the process,” Ikenga stated.
The police spokesperson noted that intelligence gathered from the suspect is currently aiding ongoing operations. He also emphasized the command’s commitment to transparency and accountability, revealing that key stakeholders — including the family of the late lawmaker and the leadership of the Anambra State House of Assembly — have been briefed on the development.
During the engagement, the Commissioner of Police acknowledged the operational failures that led to the suspect’s initial escape and expressed deep regret over the incident. He assured that efforts have been intensified to apprehend the remaining fugitives and dismantle the criminal network responsible for the heinous crime.
