The festive season in Anambra State turned grim on Christmas Eve as gunmen abducted a member of the Anambra State House of Assembly, Mr. Justice Azuka, in what analysts describe as a troubling signal of growing insecurity in the region.

Azuka, who represents Onitsha North Constituency, was seized around 9:20 pm on Ugwunapampa Road in Onitsha while returning home, creating fears among residents already grappling with concerns over safety.

In a statement released on Wednesday, Anambra Police Command spokesperson, Tochukwu Ikenga confirmed the incident and assured the public that tactical operations were underway to secure Azuka’s release and apprehend the kidnappers.

Ikenga emphasized that the police are working with local intelligence to track the perpetrators and urged the public to provide credible information that could aid investigations.
The abduction of a sitting lawmaker adds to a series of recent incidents involving kidnappings and attacks in the South-East region, heightening anxieties over the safety of citizens and public officials alike.
Community leaders and security experts have called for urgent intervention, including improved surveillance and intelligence-sharing mechanisms to counter the rising tide of abductions.
Residents of Onitsha and surrounding areas have expressed anger and frustration over the incident, demanding that security agencies intensify patrols and crack down on criminal networks.
Meanwhile, colleagues of the abducted lawmaker have called for calm, urging citizens to cooperate with authorities to ensure Azuka’s safe return.
As the police continue their investigations, questions remain about the effectiveness of current security measures in protecting lives and property in the region, especially during the holiday season.

Fear and panic gripped residents of Emure-Ile in Emure Local Government Area, Ekiti State, after gunmen ambushed a commercial bus transporting travellers from Onitsha, Anambra State, to Ado-Ekiti on Sunday night.
The heavily armed attackers dragged the passengers, including the driver, Mr. Sunday Emmanuel, into the bush, leaving behind some children whose cries attracted passersby early Monday morning.
A source at the Road Transport Employer Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) disclosed that the kidnappers have contacted the driver’s family, demanding a staggering N30 million ransom for each victim.
“They let me speak with the driver briefly before stating their demands,” the source said. “We’re still waiting for their next call.”
Security operatives are said to be combing the surrounding forests in search of the victims, while families remain gripped by fear as negotiations continue.
The incident highlights the growing insecurity along Nigerian highways and calls for intensified efforts to combat kidnapping and protect road users.

***NDLEA Busts Multi-Million Drug Rings

A shocking drug smuggling attempt was thwarted as Ezeokoli Sylva, a 59-year-old Nigerian businessman, was arrested at Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, with 700 grams of cocaine buried in his stomach.
After 35 years in Brazil, Sylva was caught by National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) operatives on Friday, November 29, upon arrival from São Paulo via Ethiopian Airlines.

NDLEA spokesperson Femi Babafemi revealed that a body scan detected foreign objects inside Sylva. “He expelled 29 wraps of cocaine during excretion observation,” Babafemi said. Sylva admitted purchasing the drugs in Brazil to resell in Nigeria, hoping to boost his business capital.

In a massive crackdown, NDLEA intercepted two drug consignments bound for the UK on November 26, with 200 grams of cocaine hidden in local fabrics and 110 grams of pentazocine injections in cartons.

In Kano, three suspects—Jamilu Adamu (38), Umar Musa (32), and Bunu Ali (27)—were arrested on November 28 with 2,000 ampoules of pentazocine and over 3 million pills of exol-5 along Zaria Road.

NDLEA operatives also seized 2,120 kilograms of “Ghanaian Loud,” a potent cannabis strain, at Ilesan Beach, Lagos, arresting Onibogi Muftau and impounding four vehicles. Earlier, 472 kilograms of the same substance were seized in Ogun State.

In Edo State, a raid on November 28 led to the arrest of Monday Onyenemue (60) and Evans Omogiede (42) with 185.6 kilograms of cannabis and a Toyota Previa van in Benin City.
The NDLEA continued its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) campaign with sensitization lectures at schools and markets across Nigeria. NDLEA Chairman, retired Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa, praised the agency’s operatives for their relentless efforts in combating drug trafficking and abuse.

“These operational successes demonstrate our commitment to eradicating drug trafficking and abuse,” Marwa said.
(nationalupdate.ng)