Suspect in Anambra lawmaker’s murder Re-arrested

One of the two suspects who escaped after their arrest in connection with the gruesome murder of the member representing Onitsha-South 1 constituency of the Anambra State House of Assembly, Hon. Justice Azuka has been re-arrested.

Public relations officer of the Anambra State Police Command (PPRO), superintendent of police, SP Tochukwu Ikenga said yesterday that the escaped suspect, one Ikemefuna Ossai was re-arrested somewhere in Asaba, Delta State capital by a team of the command’s intelligence operatives.

Ikenga said that the state police command’s operatives have combed various parts of the country, and, even some neighbouring West African countries in search of the escaping suspects.

The police command spokesperson stated in the statement he issued to newsmen yesterday that the commissioner of police in the state, CP Ikioye Orutugu has expressed apologies to the public over the lapses that led to the escape of the suspects.

The murdered Anambra State lawmaker first went missing on the eve of last Christmas Day somewhere in Inland Town in Onitsha while he was going home for the celebrations. His decomposing corpse was later found somewhere around the 2nd Niger Bridge on 8th of February, 2025.

About nine suspects were later arrested by a joint security team, the same day the lawmaker’s decomposing body was found, and were later paraded in the evening of that day by the then commissioner of police, CP Itam Nnaghe, who later handed over the following day to the current CP Orutugu.

The suspects, according to the state police command, escaped when they were being taken to help the police team arrest a suspect who received stolen vehicles from their gang.

Ikenga stated that Ossai was shot on one of his legs when he attempted to escape re-arrest immediately after he sighted the police team.

He assured the police command’s team was still working hard to re-arrest the remaining suspects.