A member of the Anambra House of Assembly, Justice Azuka, has been abducted by gunmen in Onitsha North Local Government Area of Anambra State.
The incident occurred on Tuesday night along Ugwunapampa Road as the lawmaker, who represents Onitsha North Constituency I, was returning home to celebrate Christmas.
Sources indicated that Azuka was attacked by the hoodlums while heading home for the holiday, according to Premium Times.
Anambra State police spokesperson, Tochukwu Ikenga, confirmed the abduction in a statement on Wednesday evening.
The spokesperson said police in the state had “activated operational plans for the possible rescue and arrest of the kidnappers of the lawmaker.”
According to Ikenga, the gunmen took Azuka around 9:20 p.m. and the police have since activated plans to rescue the lawmaker and apprehend the kidnappers.
Anambra has faced increasing violence from armed groups in recent years, with politicians and public officials often targeted. This is not the first time a lawmaker has been abducted in the state. In May 2022, gunmen kidnapped and beheaded Okechukwu Okoye, a lawmaker from Aguata 2 Constituency, along with his aide. In the same year, former members of the Anambra House of Assembly were also abducted and killed in separate attacks.
Apart from politicians, other individuals, including government officials, security personnel, and religious figures, have been victims of similar violence. Earlier this month, retired Archbishop Godwin Okpala of the Anglican Diocese of Nnewi and his driver were reported missing under mysterious circumstances.
While the Nigerian government has blamed the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) for some of these attacks, the group has denied involvement. IPOB is leading the campaign for an independent state of Biafra in the region.
In response to the rising insecurity, Anambra State Governor Charles Soludo recently declared a third amnesty for criminals and kidnappers, aimed at curbing the violence plaguing the state.
