RAYMOND OZOJI reports
Despite futile attempts by the Anambra State Police Command to defend itself of its ineptitude and negligence resulting in the escape of two prime suspects linked to the brutal murder of Hon. Justice Azuka from its custody, citizens have stated in very strong terms that the Police have failed woefully in their responsibilities.
Some citizens who spoke to HEADLINE NEWS exclusively on the development, maintained that no matter how the Police attempted to excuse its unprofessional conduct, the escape of the arrested suspects from their custody questioned integrity and credibility of the State Police Command.
Comrade Osita Obi Convener of Recover Nigeria Project who suggested that the predecessor of the incumbent Police Commissioner must be brought to account for how the suspects allegedly escaped under his watch, wondered why the former Police boss did not brief the new CP about the escape of the arrested kidnap suspects connected to the gruesome killing of the lawmaker, Hon. Justice Chukwunenye Azuka.
Obi was deeply concerned that the new CP who officially commenced duty on 10th February this year got to know about the escape of the suspects on 18th February. He said the new CP was not to blame for the complicity but that the Anambra State Police Command would be reported to higher authorities for total overhauling.
Meanwhile the lawmaker representing Onitsha-North 2 state constituency in the 8th assembly Hon. Jude Ifeanyi Umennajiego told HEADLINE NEWS that they would take some decisive actions on the matter because late Justice Azuka must get justice. Although he said that they have met the new Police Commissioner who assured them that the fleeing suspects would be re-arrested but truth remained that Hon. Justice Azuka's colleagues in the 8th assembly expect positive outcome in due course.
He said that the Police indeed failed Ndi-Anambra woefully but he is banking on the assurances of the new Sheriff who rekindled their hopes saying that the suspects at large would be re-arrested.
Nkechi Ogbuefi who represents Anaocha 1 state constituency in the current legislature was of the opinion that a high profile killing of a legislator should have been a widely televised interview of the suspects which she said was traditional with the Police. But she was worried that such didn't happen except for some unauthorized authorities releasing press statements on their beloved murdered colleague as if he was an insignificant person.
Ogbuefi said she refused to believe the stories surrounding the death of her colleague; wondering how someone would be killed on 26th of December last year and his body would still be as fresh as what was seen in viral videos still lying on the ground, adding that a lot of questions are begging for urgent answers.
Although Ogbuefi stated that she has not fully recovered from the shock of the sudden death of her colleague, she said there is more to the escape of the arrested suspects than what the Police is dishing out to the general public. She said that the lawmakers of the 8th assembly need to get the real details of what happened to their slain colleague. She also stated that even if the fleeing suspects were re-arrested, a million of them can not bring Hon. Justice Azuka back to life.
The Chairman House of Assembly Committee on Homeland Security and member representing Ayamelum state constituency Hon. Bernard Udemezue noted that it was unprofessional for the Police to have allowed the arrested suspects to escape under their nose.
Udemezue maintained that the Police didn't live up to the dictates of their constitutional mandate because if they ever did, his colleague in the state assembly wouldn't have been dead. He therefore emphasized that the Police failed abysmally in their duty to protect lives and property.
He said Hon. Justice Azuka was kidnapped and murdered in cold blood even as he also pointed out that the escape of the arrested suspects was not worst than the killing of a member of the state assembly. The lawmaker stated that Ndi-Anambra no longer trust the process and that the Police has lost its credibility because he believes that even if the fleeing suspects were re-arrested, the credibility of the process would still be in doubt.
According to the lawmaker, the videos released only showed the criminal suspects introducing themselves and their states of origin and no meaningful confessional statements were made. He said that people of Anambra State have not been satisfied with the transparency of the system and that what happened, happened as expected.
Udemezue also wondered why it took the Police 10 days to announce escape of two criminal suspects linked to the murder of a sitting lawmaker. He equally queried why it took the Police a very long time to make a statement on Hon. Justice Azuka's case. He said that the system has failed Hon. Justice Azuka just as it has failed every other victim of similar circumstance.
Meanwhile the Police Public Relations Officer of the Anambra State Police Command SP Tochukwu Anthony Ikenga had issued a press statement where the command assured Ndi-Anambra that the two suspects currently on the run would be re-arrested for justice to be served accordingly.
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