By Our Correspondent
The Onitsha Community of Anambra State has expressed deep sadness and outrage over the tragic death of Honourable Justice Azuka, the lawmaker representing Onitsha North Constituency 1 in the State House of Assembly and demanded solution to the growing insecurity in the state.
At a town hall meeting at Ime Obi Onitsha, the participants said the abduction of Azuka on Christmas Eve, December 24, 2024, and the subsequent discovery of his dead body on February 6, 2025, have sent shockwaves through the community.
In an emotion-laden statement after the meeting, the participants asked: “Why did it take over 40 days to locate Hon. Azuka, and was the government’s response adequate?
“Why was there a lack of communication from the authorities to the public and the family of the deceased?”
“Will the authorities establish the truth without fear or favour, and ensure that those responsible for Justice Azuka’s murder are brought to book?.
“Will the state government address the root causes of insecurity and establish a mechanism for providing emotional and material support to victims’ families?”.
They argued that an electronic movement of the alleged large sum of money paid ought to be traceable through the banking system.
“The images of the alleged abductors do not reflect persons handling large sums of money, thus raising the question of possible other accomplices”, Onitsha people stated.
They recalled that the murder of Azuka was the second high-profile killing of another young community leader in Onitsha within the past four months.
According to the participants, the community is still reeling from the attack on Hon. Patrick Agha Mba, the Anambra State Commissioner for Youth Development, his wife, and Ernest Offiah, leader of the Onitsha Youth Council (OYC), which resulted in the tragic death of Offiah on his way to Abuja.
They also observed that the recent attack on Honourable Nweze Tony Nwora, the Mayor and Chairman of Onitsha North Local Government, on February 4, 2025, further emphasized the escalating insecurity in Onitsha metropolis.
The community demands answers and action from the authorities to address the growing concerns about safety and security.
The town hall meeting recalled Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s declaration at his inauguration that “fixing Onitsha was the key to fixing Anambra State which, in turn, was the key to fixing the South East States and wondered if that remains the mantra of the administration in the face of the present circumstances of the metropolis which is the IGR cash cow of the state.”
They recalled Justice Azuka’s undeniable dedication to the community and public service. These include his selfless service to the community during the COVID-19 pandemic as a member of the Onitsha Community Covid Response Team (OCCRT), where he led the management and distribution of palliatives, his role as a co-founder and active volunteer of the NGO, Stroke Action, Life After Stroke Centre in the community for the rehabilitation of stroke survivors, in addition to his diligence and devotion as a legislator who was very close to his constituency.
The town hall gathering expressed shock at the circulation of a disturbing video on social media featuring one of the suspected killers with the body of Justice Azuka in the background, which appeared to be orchestrated by security agents for self-praise.
The meeting noted that instead of sensationalizing the discovery of the dead body, the authorities should focus on preventing such heinous crimes and ensuring that justice is served.
