A month after the abduction of Justice Azuka, a lawmaker from the Anambra State House of Assembly, members of the National Assembly have expressed outrage over the incident and criticized the lack of response from both the state government and security agencies.
Azuka, who represents Onitsha North 1 in the Anambra State Assembly, was kidnapped by unknown gunmen on December 24, 2024, while traveling to spend Christmas with his family.
In a statement released on Saturday, the Labour Party (LP) caucus in the National Assembly expressed deep concern about the prolonged captivity of Azuka and condemned the silence of the Anambra State government.
The lawmakers noted that the absence of action or even public statements from the state’s officials had become increasingly alarming.
Afam Ogene, the leader of the LP lawmakers, voiced the party’s frustration, calling the abduction and ongoing silence an unacceptable situation.
He said, “It is time to restore order in Anambra State, which has tragically become a hotbed of criminal activity and lawlessness.”
Ogene also criticized Azuka’s fellow lawmakers for not holding the state government accountable for the lack of progress in the search for their abducted colleague.
“The security situation in Anambra has reached a critical point, with daily acts of violence and fear spreading across the state,” he said.
He further condemned the growing violence and called on Governor Chukwuma Soludo and the relevant security agencies to take urgent and decisive action.
“What is being reported in the news is only a small fraction of the rampant insecurity in Anambra,” Ogene added.
“The alarming rate of kidnappings and the suffering of victims must be addressed immediately for the safety of all residents.”
