Tension in Anambra as killers of Azuka escape from police custody

…How they  bolted

From Emmanuel Uzor, Awka

Much may not have been  heard of the controversy surrounding the arrest and escape from police custody of some of the suspects arrested in connection with the kidnap and murder of Justice Azuka,  representing Onitsha North constituency 1 in Anambra State House of Assembly.

While reactions continued to trail the sudden announcement of the escape of two persons said to be involved in the kidnap and eventual murder of Azuka, many accusation and counter accusations have been raised.

Azuka was kidnapped on 2024 Christmas eve while traveling home for the yuletide, but his  dead body was later found  on the foot of the second Niger bridge in Onitsha on February 6, 2025.

Anambra State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) SP Tochukwu Ikenga,had announced the escape of two aspects being  investigated  over the murder of Azuka on on Tuesday night.

The PPRO  said that the two  suspects escaped while being led to the home of another suspect, who keeps the stolen vehicles for  the syndicate.

Ikenga said when the operatives sighted the suspects and went after them with the hope of  arresting them, the two suspects who led them there took to their heels and disappeared into  the thin air.

The announcement had sparked off outrage against the police, with many asking how the  suspects in such a high profile case were able to escape.

While many asked if the suspects were not in handcuffs, other wondered how operatives could not demobilize them as they were  running away . Some have said that the escape was a conspiracy between the police and the syndicate.

A media personality, Mr Uche Nworah has raised some posers over the incident.

Nworah said information available to him showed that the incident happened before the new commissioner of police in Anambra state  Ikioye Orutugu took over on February 10. He wondered why his predecessor, CP Obono Enaghe Itam could not announce the escape, leaving his successor to discover  days after.

“The suspects already escaped before the current Police Commissioner, CP Ikioye Orutugu took over. Why wasn’t the incident made public? The current Police Commissioner was not aware of the incident until yesterday, Monday. This informed his directive to launch a manhunt for the escaped suspects and disciplinary action against the officers involved.

“Why didn’t the former CP, Itam brief CP Orutugu during handing and taking over about this? Is this a calculated attempt to sabotage the efforts of the Governor of Anambra state and the government over their ongoing onslaught to dislodge criminal elements in the state?”

Meanwhile, another respondent who begged to remain anonymous said there was. reasonable evidence to believe that the escape was orchestrated by the police.

“What I have is that it was even one of the suspects that drove the police to the home of the man who keeps their operational vehicles, and when they got there, the operatives jumped out and arrested the man, while the two suspects in the vehicle sped off.

“This is callousness on the part of the police. Why will operatives be driven by suspects? This whole story is not clear, and to know that this happened since after how many days and the police kept quiet, and the CP Itam even failed to notify his successor shows that something is wrong. The IGP needs to beam his searchlight here,” the source said

Second lead

Soldiers destroy terrorists strongholds in Borno, Sokoto, Zamfara, kill scores

From Molly Kilete, Abuja

The Nigerian Army said its  troops have  killed 10  members of the Boko Haram terrorists and recovered  a cache of automatic fire arms during a daring raid on their strongholds in Borno, Sokoto and Zamfara states.

It was also gathered  that the operation  led to the arrest of a key terrorist collaborator, notorious for extorting ransom payments on behalf of terrorists and bandits.

The Army in a statement, said,“On February 17, 2025, troops operating in Bama Local Government Area of Borno State executed a high-impact raid deep inside Iza forest, a known terrorists’ enclave. Overwhelmed by the superior firepower of the troops, 10 Boko Haram fighters met their end, while others fled in disarray. A thorough mop-up operation in the area led to the recovery of two AK-47 rifles and two magazines loaded with ammunition.

“Meanwhile, in another decisive strike, troops deployed in Shinkafi LGA of Zamfara state leveraged credible intelligence to stage a lethal ambush at a known bandits’ crossing in Tunfa village. The ambush resulted in the neutralization of one terrorist and the capture of a high-value suspect who facilitates ransom payments for the notorious Sani Black terrorists faction. Acting on the suspect’s confession, troops stormed the bandits’ hideout in Tunga village, a criminal hub for selling rustled cattle. Multiple suspects were rounded up, and all bandit infrastructure in the area was utterly destroyed.

“Further intensifying counterterrorism efforts, troops acting on precise human intelligence apprehended a suspected terrorist at Illela Market in Illela Local Government Area of Sokoto State.

“Commending the troops for their doggedness and operational efficiency, the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Olufemi Oluyede reaffirmed the Nigerian Army’s resolute commitment to uprooting terrorism, banditry and other criminalities from troubled parts of the country. He urged patriotic citizens to continue to support the troops by providing  credible information in the collective fight to rid Nigeria of all terrorist elements.”