Former presidential aspirant Peter Obi has condemned the murder of Justice Azuka, the member representing Onitsha North 1 Constituency in the Anambra State House of Assembly, whose corpse was discovered by security operatives near the Second Niger Bridge.
Chronicle NG reports that Azuka was kidnapped on December 24, 2024, along Ugwunaobankpa Road in Inland Town, Onitsha, while returning home for Christmas.
He was kidnapped at gunpoint in a swift operation that lasted less than five minutes.
Tochukwu Ikenga, the spokesperson for the Anambra State Police Command, confirmed the discovery on Thursday, saying a joint security team found the decomposing corpse during a routine patrol.
Speaking in a statement on his X page on Thursday, Obi described Azuka’s murder as ”a devastating loss” for his family and the entire Anambra State.
The former governor of Anambra State noted that his murder is not just an attack on one individual but a brutal assault on all of us and the sanctity of human life.”
While sympathising with the bereaved family, Obi lamented over the widespread insecurity in the country, urging relevant authorities to bring to a halt the incessant kidnapping and murder in the country.
Obi’s statement reads, ”It is with utmost sadness and a heavy heart that I address the tragic and senseless murder of Honourable Justice Azuka, the representative of Onitsha North 1 Constituency in the Anambra State House of Assembly.
”His decomposing body was discovered at the 2nd Niger Bridge, marking a devastating loss for his family, constituents, the Onitsha community, and all of us.
”Honourable Azuka was a dedicated public servant who tirelessly championed the interests of his people.
”His abduction on December 24, 2024, while returning home in Onitsha, and the subsequent discovery of his lifeless body, underscore the escalating insecurity that has plagued our society.
”This heinous act is not just an attack on one individual but a brutal assault on all of us and the sanctity of human life. It is a stark reminder of the urgent need to address the pervasive insecurity that threatens the fabric of our nation.
”To the family, Onitsha community, and constituents of Honourable Azuka, I extend my deepest condolences.
”No words can adequately convey the depth of our collective grief, but please know that we stand with you in this time of profound sorrow.
”May his soul rest in eternal peace, and may we find the strength to forge a safer and more just Nigeria.”
