ANAMBRA TASK FORCE ACCUSED OF SHOOTING AND KILLING FOUR IN ONITSHA MARKET
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BY OWOLABI OLUWADARA
Chaos erupted near the consistently bustling hub of Emeka Offor Plaza, Onitsha Main Market, on Tuesday when members of the Operation Clean And Healthy Anambra Brigade, commonly referred to as the “OCHA Brigade,” reportedly discharged their firearms, resulting in the deaths of at least four individuals, one of whom was a pregnant woman.
Witnesses in proximity to the incident observed that it incited panic and outrage among vendors and residents, who hastily evacuated the area in search of safety.
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The OCHA Brigade is a government-operated enforcement agency in Anambra, assigned the responsibility of ensuring environmental sustainability, upholding government mandates concerning cleanliness, order, and discipline, as well as enhancing the overall health of the state.
Its operations encompass the removal of illegal constructions, enforcing appropriate waste management, guaranteeing that thoroughfares remain unobstructed by roadside vendors, and confiscating goods from unlicensed enterprises.
An eyewitness and trader in the market, identified merely as Chinwendu, recounted, “The incident unfolded this morning as several vendors were displaying their goods when the operatives of the OCHA Brigade arrived and forcefully instructed them to clear their merchandise.
“This provoked some confrontations between the vendors and the operatives, and during the struggle to seize the merchandise from the vendors, the OCHA Brigade members opened fire and began shooting into the air.
“This incited chaos as individuals, including vendors and bystanders, rushed to safety. This is devastating. As a consequence of the gunfire, four innocent individuals who had left their homes earlier that day were wounded by stray bullets. Among them was a pregnant woman and three others.
“Their deceased bodies were subsequently removed by police operatives who arrived at the site. ”
The incident has ignited widespread outrage, with vendors decrying the persistent harassment they endure from the OCHA Brigade within the markets.
Upon inquiry regarding the incident, the Spokesperson for the Anambra State Police Command, Tochukwu Ikenga, verified the occurrence, stating that the situation has been contained and tranquility has been restored to the market.
“While we have yet to receive comprehensive details, we have been informed that some security personnel, during the execution of their duties, discharged their weapons, resulting in the fatalities of three individuals.
“The situation is now under control, and calm has returned to the market. We will release additional information as soon as we obtain the complete particulars of the incident,” Ikenga stated.
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