RE-ARREST OF ESCAPED KIDNAP SUSPECT LINKED TO THE MURDER OF LATE HON. JUSTICE AZUKA
The Anambra State Police Command has successfully rearrested Ikemefuna Ossai, a suspect in the kidnapping and murder of Hon. Justice Azuka, a member of the Anambra State House of Assembly representing Onitsha 1 Constituency. Ossai was tracked across multiple states and into a neighboring West African country before being apprehended on May 7, 2025, in Asaba, Delta State. He sustained a gunshot wound to the leg while attempting to escape arrest.
The report was made available to Aiyekooto Reporters by SP Tochukwu Ikenga the Spokesperson for the Anambra State Police Command in Akwa the state capital.
Key Details of the Rearrest:
- Previous Escape: Ossai was among two suspects who escaped police custody in February 2025 while being taken to arrest the receiver of stolen vehicles used in the crime.
- Investigation and Tracking: The police command conducted a painstaking and intelligence-led operation to track Ossai down, eventually leading to his re-arrest.
- Acknowledgment of Operational Lapses: The Commissioner of Police, Ikioye Orutugu, expressed regret over the operational lapses that led to Ossai’s earlier escape and briefed relevant stakeholders, including the late lawmaker’s family and the Anambra State House of Assembly leadership.
- Ongoing Operations: Actionable intelligence obtained from Ossai is currently aiding ongoing operations to apprehend the remaining fugitive and dismantle the criminal network responsible for the crime .
The Anambra State Police Command remains committed to bringing all perpetrators to justice and ensuring the safety and security of the state’s residents.
