Some officers of the Anambra State Police Command are being investigated following the escape of two suspects linked to the killing of a member of the Anambra State House of Assembly representing Onitsha 1 Constituency, Justice Azuka.
This is as the Speaker of the Anambra State House of Assembly, Somtochukwu Udeze, in a statement released on Wednesday, demanded the immediate re-arrest of the escaped suspects.
Azuka was abducted on December 24, and his lifeless body was found on the Second Niger Bridge on February 6, 2025.
In connection with the murder, the police had arrested nine suspects.
However, in a shocking twist, two of the arrested suspects managed to escape just days after their capture.
The spokesperson for the Anambra State Police Command, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, confirmed their escape in a statement on Tuesday.
According to Ikenga, the suspects fled in Obosi, Idemili North LGA, while leading police operatives from Awkuzu Command on an operation to apprehend the receiver of stolen vehicles used by their gang.
“Although the receiver of the vehicles was arrested, and two vehicles were recovered, the two suspects fled the scene. The Commissioner of Police, CP Ikioye Orutugu, has already ordered a manhunt for the fleeing suspects,” Ikenga stated.
Speaking with journalists on Wednesday, Ikenga revealed that the escape happened on February 8 and that all officers involved in the operation are currently at the State Command Headquarters for debriefing.
He explained that while the suspects were handcuffed at the time, the swampy nature of the area where they escaped may have aided their movement.
He added that a thorough investigation is underway to prevent a recurrence.
“Disciplinary actions are already being taken to address any negligence involved. The CP has assured that anyone found culpable will not go unpunished. As this goes on, our priority remains the re-arrest of the fleeing suspects to ensure they face justice,” he said.
Ikenga clarified that the suspects have not yet been declared wanted because the police are following due process.
“Declaring someone wanted is a process. We must exhaust all investigative options first. However, we are working towards obtaining a court order to formally declare them wanted,” he added.
While describing the incident as “very unfortunate,” he emphasized that the police have nothing to hide and urged the public to see security as a collective responsibility.
Providing further details, Ikenga disclosed that of the nine suspects arrested for Azuka’s murder, two played key roles and had provided critical information about their sponsor and operational locations.
“In a follow-up investigation, officers took these two suspects to the location they identified as their meeting point with their sponsor and receiver of stolen items in Obosi, Idemili North LGA. The goal was to arrest this individual and dismantle their network. Unfortunately, the suspects escaped during the operation,” he said.
Despite the escape, he confirmed that the police successfully arrested the suspected financier of the gang, along with the receiver of stolen items.
He also revealed that two operational vehicles—a black Lexus 350 SUV and a black Toyota RAV4—used in the lawmaker’s abduction and murder were recovered.
“The arrested individual, whose full identity will be disclosed soon, is the group’s main financier, providing them with operational tools and logistics,” he added.
Meanwhile, the Speaker of the Anambra State House of Assembly, Somtochukwu Udeze, in a statement released on Wednesday, demanded the immediate re-arrest of the escaped suspects.
Udeze expressed disappointment over the development and urged the police to take every necessary step to recapture the fugitives.
“The Anambra State House of Assembly deeply regrets this unfortunate development, which casts a shadow over the otherwise commendable and professional manner in which the police have handled the investigation. The position of the State Legislature is clear: the fleeing suspects must be tracked and apprehended at all costs,” he said.
“I call on the Commissioner of Police to redouble his efforts and ensure that the escaped suspects are re-arrested and brought to justice. The police should immediately declare them wanted and publish their full names, addresses, and photographs to enlist public support in tracking them down.”
