The late member representing Onitsha North 1 Constituency in the Anambra State House of Assembly, Justice Azuka, was buried amid deep sorrow as family members, state officials, Labour Party leaders, and sympathizers mourned his untimely demise.
Azuka, a prominent Labour Party figure, was reportedly abducted on December 24, 2024, along Ugwunaobankpa Road in Onitsha while heading home for Christmas.
His lifeless body was tragically discovered at the Second Niger Bridge on February 6, 2025.
A burial mass held at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Onitsha, on Saturday, drew a large gathering, including Governor Chukwuma Soludo, Speaker of the Anambra State House of Assembly Somtochukwu Udeze, his deputy, and several other lawmakers.
Also present were the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, alongside LP senators, House of Representatives members, and other dignitaries.
During the homily, the Vicar-in-charge of Onitsha, Very Rev. Fr. Johnbosco Okafor, emphasized the sanctity of life, condemning acts of violence and urging the government to strengthen security.
He stated, “Justice Azuka, who died at the prime of his youth, had already carved out an impressive niche for himself and had led an impactful life before his death.”
Expressing his grief, Governor Soludo described the late lawmaker as more than just a political associate but also a family member.
He remarked, ”I am here as the Governor of Anambra State, the killing of Justice Azuka is an abomination, it is still difficult for me to believe it happened. Azuka and I worked together, he supported the state government. We are sad, but we are saying that it will not happen again in this state.”
“I want to use this opportunity to clear some misconceptions and rumours that sound like the truth being peddled around the state and beyond that the kidnappers of Azuka withdrew N100 million from his account before they killed him. That information was wrong, it was not true, immediately we got the information that he was kidnapped, we ensured that we blocked his account.
“We are sad that Azuka died the most painful, but it has happened. The consolation is that, literarily, all the people involved in his death are with us in custody, they murdered Justice and we will give them Justice, there are no two ways about it. We are so shocked by the way the youths of these days are taking human lives. Many people have in the past been kidnapped and ransoms were paid and they were released. But youths these days kidnap and kill their victims even when they have collected ransom.
“We must condemn what they are doing and it must stop, we will not allow them to continue the wickedness. Some people are condemning the security outfit we set up, and even calling me names, but we don’t care about what they are saying, Anambra must be secured to be the most secure state in Nigeria.”
“The people who are condemning the ‘Agunechemba’ security are the people who celebrate those working with kidnappers and armed robbers who terrorise us. We are not against traditional worship, because there is freedom of religion in our constitution, but If you are preparing charms and doing other fetish things to protect kidnappers and armed robbers, we will never allow you to operate here.
“The kidnappers have crossed the line and we are after them now. I must doff my heart to the Asagba of Asagba, Prof. Epiphany Azinge, who has responded to what we are doing in Anambra State.”
“Immediately he discovered that these criminals we were chasing out of Anambra State were moving into Asaba, he read his own riot act to them that Asaba would not accommodate them, and he has set up machinery in motion to check crime in Asaba, that is what a good traditional ruler should do, I want our Anambra traditional rulers to emulate him.”
Soludo further assured that the government would not abandon Azuka’s family, although he did not specify the exact support they would receive.
Dignitaries present at the burial included Senator Victor Umeh (Anambra Central), Senator Tony Nwoye (Anambra North), Hon. Emeka Idu (Onitsha North and South Federal Constituency), Hon. Pascal Agbodike (Ihiala Federal Constituency), and Chief Chima Nzeibe, a former representative of Ihiala Federal Constituency. Others included former NIWA Managing Director and LP governorship aspirant, Chief George Moghalu, as well as Chief Valentine Ozigbo and Chief Oseloka Obaze, both past governorship aspirants.
Also in attendance were Dr. Alex Obiogbolu, Special Adviser on Political Matters to Governor Soludo, Dr. Clement Ojukwu, and other political stakeholders in Anambra State.
