The Onitsha community has expressed deep sadness and outrage over the tragic murder of Justice Azuka, a dedicated lawmaker representing Onitsha North Constituency 1 in the Anambra State House of Assembly.
Azuka was abducted on Christmas Eve, December 24, 2024, and his lifeless body was discovered on February 6, 2025, sending shockwaves across the region.
The condemnation was voiced at a town hall meeting held on Monday, January 10, 2025, at Ime Obi Onitsha.
Participants at the meeting decried the lawmaker’s killing, noting that it marked the second high-profile assassination of a young, aspiring leader in Onitsha within the past four months.
The community is still reeling from the violent attack on Hon. Patrick Agha Mba, Anambra State Commissioner for Youth Development, his wife, and Kpajie Ernest ABK Offiah, Esq., leader of the Onitsha Youth Council (OYC), which resulted in the tragic death of Kpajie Offiah.
In a statement signed by Ike Akatakwuani and Chief of Staff Chief Osita Anionwu, the community observed that the recent attack on Honourable Nweze Tony Nwora, Mayor and Chairman of Onitsha North Local Government, on February 4, 2025, further underscores the escalating insecurity in the Onitsha metropolis.
The community has called on authorities to address the growing concerns regarding safety and security.
Participants recalled Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s inauguration statement that fixing Onitsha was key to fixing Anambra State and, in turn, the South East. They questioned whether this vision still holds, given the worsening security crisis in the commercial hub, which serves as the state’s economic backbone.
The gathering also highlighted Azuka’s unwavering dedication to public service. They praised his efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic as a member of the Onitsha Community Covid Response Team (OCCRT), where he led the distribution of palliatives.
Azuka was also a co-founder and active volunteer of Stroke Action, Life After Stroke Centre, an NGO supporting stroke survivors. In addition to his humanitarian work, he was known for his diligence and close connection to his constituency as a legislator.
The town hall gathering expressed deep shock at a disturbing video circulating on social media, which shows one of the suspected killers with Azuka’s lifeless body in the background. The video, allegedly orchestrated by security agents for self-praise, was condemned as inappropriate and insensitive.
“Rather than sensationalising the discovery of his body, authorities should focus on preventing such heinous crimes and ensuring justice is served,” the community declared.