Tension gripped Onitsha Main Market on Tuesday after operatives of the Operation Clean and Healthy Anambra Brigade, also called OCHA Brigade, allegedly fired gunshots during a confrontation, leaving at least four people, including a pregnant woman, dead.
The incident occurred around the busy Emeka Offor Plaza section of the market and triggered panic as traders and passersby fled the area.
The OCHA Brigade, a state-backed enforcement body, is responsible for maintaining environmental standards, removing illegal structures, ensuring waste management compliance, and keeping major roads free of obstructions such as roadside trading.
Eyewitnesses said the situation escalated when OCHA operatives attempted to disperse traders displaying goods at the market. One trader, who gave her name as Chinwendu, recounted the incident.
She said, “The incident occurred this morning as some traders were displaying their wares, the operatives of OCHA Brigade came to the place and forcefully ordered them to remove their wares.
“This led to some altercations between the traders and the operatives, and in the process of dragging the wares with the traders, the OCHA Brigade operatives opened fire and started shooting in the air.
“This led to pandemonium as people, including traders and passers-by, scampered to safety.
“This is heartbreaking. As a result of the shooting, four innocent people who left their homes this morning were shot by stray bullets. Among them is a pregnant woman and three others.
“Their lifeless bodies were later carried away by police operatives who arrived at the scene.”
The development has heightened anger among traders, many of whom accused the OCHA Brigade of harassment and heavy-handed tactics in the markets.
Confirming the incident, the spokesperson for the Anambra State Police Command, Tochukwu Ikenga, said calm had been restored to the area.
He stated, “Although we have not got the full details, we have a report that some security officers, while carrying out their functions, opened fire, and this led to the killing of three persons.
“The situation is under control, and calm has been restored to the market. We will provide more details as soon as we get the full details of the incident.”
(PUNCH)
