“Hon. Azuka’s death is a reminder of a treacherous trend that has taken root in Anambra State” —Ebuka Onyekwelu
Around May 2022, kidnapped Hon. Okechukwu Okoye was found dead with his head and body discovered in different locations. Yet, on Thursday morning, February 6, 2025, news that the kidnapped lawmaker, Hon. Justice Azuka, had been killed filtered in. Thus, within two years and nine months, two serving members of the Anambra State House of Assembly had paid the supreme price in the hands of criminals.
Although the late Hon. Okechukwu Okoye was a member of the 7th Assembly, Hon. Justice Azuka joined the 8th Assembly after he reclaimed his mandate through the court, months after the 2023 General Election. His gruesome murder has set a bad precedent given that this is the first time ever, the government of Anambra State has lost two serving members to criminals within a single term. The implication is that the members of the Anambra State House of Assembly as of today, do not have the means to protect themselves from criminals and this is a very dangerous sign.
Kidnapped on his way to his home in Onitsha on Christmas Eve of last year, Hon. Justice Azuka, had spent more than one full month in the kidnappers’ den. However, a police report said he was killed on December 26, 2024, after N100 million was moved from his account as ransom. Interestingly, throughout these long, dreadful, and agonizing days, the government of Anambra State did not issue any statement about his disappearance. More tragic is that his colleagues in the Anambra State House of Assembly could not make any case for him. Serving members of his party, Labour Party, in the State and National Assembly, could not raise their voices for him, except for Hon. Henry Mbachu. Others, like the executive arm, issued no statement. The weight of this silence while an official of the Government of Anambra State was under captivity by criminals, is incredibly difficult to put into perspective. Yet, less than twenty-four hours after announcing his death, the Anambra State Commissioner for Information issued a condolence statement on behalf of the governor. Serving lawmakers who are of his party at the National Assembly have issued press statements. The question that will ring for all time is if the silence of the government and that of his colleagues in the House of Assembly was all they could do, till his death. The next question if necessary, is if Hon. Justice Azuka deserved to be abandoned in the hands of his killers.
Head or tail, if the government of Anambra State can treat one of its members with utter silence at a time he and his family needed the government to show up for them the most, how then is the government treating the ordinary Anambra people? Little wonder the ordinary people in Anambra are terrorized by pestle-welding touts, among other uniformed government-sanctioned abusers.
Hon. Azuka’s death is a reminder of a treacherous trend that has taken root in Anambra State. Despite the latest efforts by the state government to tackle insecurity so far since about three weeks ago, the reality is that the security crisis in Anambra has taken a deep root. Only three days ago, an attempt was made to abduct a serving local government chairman in the Onitsha metropolis right at the peak of the government’s war on criminals under the operation udo ga achi initiative. The gunfire from the hoodlums who made this bold attempt to abduct in the Onitsha metropolis, led to at least one death. This is a stark reminder to all voices of reason that were silent throughout Hon. Justice Azuka’s abduction that it could indeed be anyone.
It bears repeating that Hon. Justice was abducted on duty. He was kidnapped while he was returning to his family from the Anambra State House of Assembly and thereafter held for over one month. In the end, not only that the state couldn’t rescue him, but worse still, the state and the House of Assembly couldn’t utter a word for him in life. In his death, they have all now regained their voices. Regrettably, this speaks to broader issues relating to human pretenses that prefer playing to the gallery for public spectacle, to a tangible and impactful result that can be achieved by action.
The fate of Hon. Justice was not only sealed by those who abducted him. But also by the government he served, and his colleagues at the House of Assembly, who remained silent in his darkest days. Those whose actions might have made a difference and saved him failed him. The lesson for the living from this sad event is to do what they can when they will. Most people are just too busy playing the script that elevates their political interests, even if it means remaining voiceless when their voices are most needed.
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