By Nwabueze Okonkwo

Reactions have continued to trail the discovery of the decomposing corpse of Hon. Justice Azuka, a member representing Onitsha North 1 constituency in Anambra state House of Assembly, who was kidnapped in Onitsha on December 24, last year.

The assailants had, after collecting a humongous amount of money as ransom, killed him and now dumped his decomposing corpse along the Second Niger Bridge when it was found on Thursday morning.

The Labour Party LP Caucus of the House of Representatives said it is deeply saddened and devastated by the news of the death of Hon. Azuka, its party man and member of the state Assembly, after a prolonged period of captivity in the hands of kidnappers.

The LP House of Representatives Caucus leader and member representing Ogbaru Federal Constituency of Anambra state, Hon Afam Victor Ogene, in a statement on Thursday, described the incident as “Horrible, heart-rending and a big blow to the Labour Party and the legislature.”

The LP caucus leader had earlier in January called on Governor Chukwuma Soludo to take urgent and decisive action to secure the release of the abducted state lawmaker and also address the growing insecurity in the state, which according to him “has become notorious for kidnappings and killings”.

The Rep members expressed their heartfelt condolences to the family of the late lawmaker, especially his young wife and children, who have been thrown into deep sorrow as a result of this dastardly act of great wickedness by criminals.

Hon. Ogene asked rhetorically : “How do you explain this act of wickedness? How do you comfort Hon. Azuka’s young wife that her husband would no longer return home? What do you tell the children when they grow up. This is very sad. It is condemnable and government has to truly take more decisive action to prevent this kind of destruction of life and the future of many by a few individuals who are currently laying siege on the people of Anambra state”.

“As I said in my earlier statement on the kidnap of the late lawmaker, the level of carnage going on in Anambra on a daily basis is heart-rending. People live in fear as a result of the growing insecurity. The rate of bloodletting, kidnappings and other violent crimes in the state is fast turning the state into a killing field. And this is not an exaggeration. The crime that is reported in the state is just a tiny fraction of the horrendous insecurity reality in Anambra. That’s the brutal truth”.

“The horrific experiences of kidnapping survivors in Anambra underscore the dire need for improved security in the state. The government’s primary responsibility is to ensure the safety and well-being of its citizens, as well as protect their property. It is imperative that the government takes decisive action to reclaim control from criminal gangs and restore confidence among the people”.

“Today, it is Hon. Justice Azuka, but no one knows whose turn it will be tomorrow. While we commend Governor Soludo’s recent efforts at tackling the situation, through the launch of the Agunachemba security outfit, more certainly, needs to be done, especially in the area of deploying technology in the fight against criminals in the state”.

“For instance, how many drones does the state have in it’s crime-fighting arsenal; does the state operate a command and control centre; are the state’s vigilante services properly motivated in the battle against kidnappers and sundry criminals?

“Only two days ago, a serving local government chairman had his car riddled with bullets, in a daring kidnap attempt in Onitsha — a development which reinforces the dire need to further prioritize security,” the statement added.

The caucus however prayed for the repose of the soul of the fallen lawmaker, and asked God to comfort his young family in this period of grief, and beyond.have

Hon. Chugbo Enwezor, former two-term member of the state Assembly who represented the same Onitsha North 1 constituency where the late Azuka represented before his abduction, in his own reaction, said it was quite painful and embarrassing to hear the news of Azuka’s death.

According to Enwezor, a lawyer,, personally, I am deeply devastated by this gory tale. I am perturbed by the level of wickedness exhibited by the kidnappers to the extent if killing him after collecting money as ransom for his release”.

“I would suggest that Section 214 of the 1999 constitution which gave the federal government the exclusive right to control the police be amended to give the state governments power to join hands in equipping the police, not just Vigilante operatives for effective security network.

He regretted that the insecurity situation in Anambra state has become too inexplicable that people are beginning to wonder whether we still have government in power in the state.

He condoled the family of late Hon Azuka, Onitsha people and the Labour Party for the irreparable loss and urged them to bear it with fortitude.

Vanguard News