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The Anambra State Police Command has confirmed the CrimeFacts’ exclusive news story of the re-arrest of a prime suspect, Ikemefuna Ossai, who allegedly killed the Anambra lawmaker, Justice Azuka, in 2024.
Ikenga Tochukwu, the police spokesperson in Anambra, said this in a statement on Tuesday.
Background
Last week, CrimeFacts’s news exclusively reported how the suspect, Ikemefuna, was rearrested in Delta after he escaped from police custody in February.
However, the other fugitive is still large.
In December 2024, Justice Azuka, the Anambra lawmaker who represented Onitsha 1 Constituency in the Anambra House of Assembly, was kidnapped and later found dead in January.
Police statement
The Anambra PPRO stated in a statement that its operatives have successfully rearrested one *Ikemefuna Ossai*, a suspect in the kidnapping and gruesome murder of the late Hon. Justice Azuka, the distinguished Member representing Onitsha 1 Constituency in the Anambra State House of Assembly.
Ikenga, a superintendent of police, disclosed that this rearrest followed a painstaking and intelligence-led operation. T
Mr Ikenga said that the suspect, who had previously escaped custody, was tracked across multiple states within Nigeria and even into a neighbouring West African country. He was eventually apprehended on 7th May 2025 in Asaba, Delta State.
Upon sighting the operatives, the suspect attempted to escape arrest but was swiftly subdued and sustained a gunshot wound to the leg in the process.
“The Police Command in its continued commitment to transparency and accountability, has briefed relevant stakeholders, including the family of the late lawmaker and the leadership of the Anambra State House of Assembly. During the engagement, the Commissioner of Police acknowledged and expressed regret over the operational lapses that led to the suspect’s earlier escape.
“Further to this development, actionable intelligence obtained from the suspect is currently aiding ongoing operations. The Command has intensified efforts to apprehend the remaining fugitive and dismantle the criminal network responsible for this heinous crime.
“The Anambra State Police Command reiterates its unwavering resolve to bring all perpetrators to justice and ensure the safety and security of Ndi Anambra.
