Police arrest 26-year-old suspect in murder of Anambra lawmaker

Tuesday, December 9, 2025 - The Police in Anambra State have arrested a 26-year-old man, Mr Ugochukwu Uzor, for alleged involvement in the k!lling of a member of the Anambra State House of Assembly, Hon. Justice Azuka. 

Hon. Azuka was kidnapped last year on the eve of Christmas while on a vacation in Onitsha. He was later found de@d in February 2025 at the foot of the Second Niger Bridge, despite rumours that ransom had been paid.

In a press release signed by their spokesperson of the Anambra State Police Command, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, and made available to journalists, it was stated that the arrested Ugochukwu was involved in the k!lling and has a long history of violent offences. 

The police statement read: “He revealed his involvement in the abduction and subsequent murder of Hon. Azuka Justice, a distinguished member of the Anambra State House of Assembly, on December 24, 2024. 

“Uzor, who is known for his violent criminal activities, was found to have a large tattoo on his body with the inscriptions ‘No Forgiveness’ + ‘No Mercy,’ a disturbing reminder of the hardened nature of his criminal mindset. 

“Upon interrogation, the suspect confessed to being the leader of several criminal gangs operating across Anambra and neighbouring states.” 

On how the alleged notorious criminal was arrested, police said: “Anambra State Police, through operatives of the Rapid Response Squad, Awkuzu, successfully arrested the notorious and heavily injured armed robber during a major offensive operation in Ogbaru Local Government Area on December 8, 2025. 

“The suspect, identified as Ugochukwu Uzor, a 26-year-old male, is a dangerous criminal with a long history of violent offences. He was apprehended in Iyiowa Odekpe, Ogbaru LGA, after a fierce confrontation with the police operatives. During the operation, one locally made Beretta pistol and eleven live ammunition rounds were recovered.” 

The command described the arrest of Ugochukwu Uzor as a significant breakthrough in the fight against violent crime and said it would assist further investigations to dismantle criminal syndicates operating within the state.