When the story began to fly in the air on Tuesday, many Anambra State residents described it as a story for the gods – a regular expression for a lie in Nigeria.
However, in a bizzare twist of events, the Anambra State Police Command has confirmed that two of the men involved in the abduction, gruesome murder, and dumping of the body of a state lawmaker, Hon. Justice Azuka, have vanished from its hands.
Anambra Police spokesperson, Superintendent Tochukwu Ikenga, who announced, after tongues began wagging on the alleged escape of the suspects, said in a statement on Tuesday night, said the escape happened when police operatives took the two suspects on an operation to apprehend a receiver of stolen vehicles linked to the criminal gang.
After the receiver of the stolen vehicles was apprehended, the two suspects suspects fled the scene.
Recall that gunmen had, on Christmas eve of last year, abducted Justice Azuka, the lawmaker representing Onitsha 1 Constituency in State House of Assembly.
His decomposing body was found six weeks later following an intense search by a joint security team on February 6 at the Second Niger Bridge in Onitsha.
Police subsequently arrested nine suspects in connection with the murder.
Ikenga’s statement said that the Commissioner of Police, CP Ikioye Orutugu, has deployed human, operational, and intelligence assets in manhunt for the suspects.
He said they would be re-arrested and justice would be served in accordance.
The police commissioner assured the public that it was intensifying efforts to locate and re-arrest the suspects.
He also emphasized that any officers found responsible for the suspects’ escape would face disciplinary action.
