The decomposing remains of Justice Azunda, Chief Protocol Officer to the former Chief of Staff, Rivers State Government House, Emeka Woke, has been exhumed, the police have said.
Recall that Azunda, a Chief Superintendent of Police, was abducted from the venue of a meeting in Isiodo community, Emuoha Local Government Area of the state by gunmen three weeks ago.
After the incident, his location became unknown until Thursday afternoon, when his burnt remains were found and retrieved from a shallow grave inside a forest in Elibrada, Emuoha LGA.
The recovery was made possible by the police arrest of a member of the late notorious kidnapper’s gang, NWordi’s gang.
The arrested gang member upon interrogation, confessed that Justice was killed and buried in their hideout.
The suspect later took the police and members of the Emuoha Local Government Vigilante Service to their camp in a boundary forest between Elibrada and the Ogbodo community in Ikwerre LGA.
The police team led by the Divisional Police Officer of Rumuji Division, in collaboration with the vigilante, bagged and moved the body to a mortuary in his hometown.
It’s gathered that other shallow graves were discovered in the forest, but the police set fire to the camp to ensure that it was completely destroyed.
The spokesperson of the state Police Command, Grace Iringe-Koko, confirmed the recovery of Azunda’s corpse.
“Yes, I am aware that his body has been recovered and the investigation is ongoing,” she said
Speaking on the development, the Chairman of Emuoha LGA, Dr Chidi Lloyd, said people thought Justice was still alive, though in captivity.
He expressed sadness over the killing of Azunda, stating that no one who have envisaged him being a victim of such brutal and heinous death.
Lloyd stated, “Today we have confirmed that indeed he (Justice) has passed on. The DPO and his men have also recovered Automated Teller Machine cards belonging to the late Azunda”