Despicable Action by Anambra Police 

The news that the two suspected killers of a member of the Anambra House of Assembly, Justice Azuka, had escaped from police custody in the state last week is not only sickening and depressing, but despicable.

On December 24, 2024, Azuka was abducted in the state. It was not until February 6 that a joint security team found his decomposing body at Second Niger Bridge in Onitsha.

The police in the state later confirmed that nine suspected killers had been arrested in connection with the dastardly crime.

But the police spokesperson, Tochukwu Ikenga, explained that the two suspects who were assisting police operatives escaped when they went out with the operatives for an investigation to arrest a receiver of vehicles used by the criminal gang.

This is a cock and bull story from the police! 

Is this not why the society resorted to jungle justice instead of handing over suspected criminals caught in the act to operatives of the Nigerian Police?

There are speculations among the residents of the state that powerful forces behind the kidnapping and killing of the lawmaker might have facilitated the escape of the suspects with the collaboration of some bad eggs in the police. 

Many believe that powerful forces were behind the abductors and killers of the lawmaker.

Reacting to the arrest of the suspected killers of the lawmaker, the Onitsha Traditional Council had in a statement issued by the Chief of Staff of the council, Chief Osita Anionwu noted that: “The images of the alleged abductors do not reflect persons handling large sums of money, thus raising the question of possible other accomplices.”

Were the police not supposed to have handcuffed and chained the suspects accused of such heinous crimes to prevent them from escaping?

The new police commissioner in the state, Ikioye Orutugu should urgently reorganise the police in the state and transfer officers and men who have served for up to three years out of the state.

The police in Anambra are highly compromised and unscrupulous. It took the establishment of Agu Na Eche Mba to rescue the state from the grip of criminals who did not spare gallant officers and men of the police who sacrificed their lives on the line of duty.

The new CP must also ensure that the suspects are rearrested and that the officers whose laxity, dereliction of duty or possible connivance led to the escape are severely dealt with.