Lawmaker’s Murder: Anambra Has Become a War Zone Under Soludo – Labour Party

The Labour Party (LP) has condemned the kidnapping and assassination of Hon. Justice Azuka, a lawmaker representing Onitsha 1 North Constituency in the Anambra State House of Assembly, stating that the incident highlights Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s inability to maintain law and order in the state.

Azuka was abducted on December 24, 2024, by unidentified gunmen while returning home along Ugwunaobankpa Road in Inland Town, Onitsha. His decomposing body was discovered near the 2nd Niger Bridge the following day, sparking outrage and concerns over rising insecurity in the state.

Reacting to the tragic development, Labour Party’s national publicity secretary, Obiora Ifoh, lamented the worsening security situation in Anambra under Soludo’s administration, describing the state as a “war zone” where life has become “nasty, brutish, and short.” He criticized the government for its alleged failure to enforce security and protect its citizens.

Ifoh also recalled the unresolved case of Labour Party’s former governorship candidate, Obiora Agbasimelo, who was abducted while campaigning and remains missing to this day. He questioned why neither the security agencies nor the government had provided any answers regarding his whereabouts.

Expressing the party’s grief over Azuka’s murder, Ifoh emphasized that the primary duty of any government is to ensure the security and well-being of its people, a responsibility he claimed the Soludo administration has failed to uphold. He found it alarming that a serving legislator could be kidnapped for over a month without any successful rescue effort.

While acknowledging reports that some suspects had been arrested in connection with the crime, Ifoh urged security agencies to conduct a thorough investigation to uncover those responsible. He refrained from speculating on political motives but noted that Azuka’s mandate had been secured through a court ruling after initially being declared lost to another party.

The Labour Party called on its members in Anambra to remain peaceful and allow security agencies to carry out their investigations. Ifoh urged them to stay focused despite the tragedy, assuring that justice must be served.

On behalf of the Labour Party’s National Chairman, Julius Abure, and the party’s leadership, Ifoh extended condolences to Azuka’s family and prayed for the strength to bear the irreparable loss.