ONITSHA: Tension gripped the Onitsha Main Market on Tuesday after operatives of the Operation Clean and Healthy Anambra Brigade (OCHA Brigade) allegedly opened fire near the popular Emeka Offor Plaza, killing at least four people, including a pregnant woman.
Eyewitnesses said the incident erupted during a confrontation between traders and the OCHA operatives, who had ordered vendors to remove their wares from the roadside.
According to a trader, Chinwendu, The operatives stormed the area, forcing traders to remove their goods.
An altercation followed, and in the struggle, the OCHA men opened fire. People ran in panic, but stray bullets struck four people, including a pregnant woman. Their bodies were later evacuated by the police.
The OCHA Brigade, a state-run enforcement agency, is mandated to ensure cleanliness, orderliness, and environmental discipline across Anambra.
Its duties include clearing illegal structures, enforcing waste disposal rules, and removing roadside traders.
However, traders have repeatedly accused the agency of heavy-handed tactics and harassment.
Tuesday’s shooting triggered outrage, with residents and market leaders lamenting what they described as the excessive force often deployed by OCHA operatives.
Confirming the incident, Anambra Police Command spokesperson, Tochukwu Ikenga, said calm had been restored.
“We received a report that some security officers, while carrying out their duties, opened fire, leading to the death of three persons.
The situation is under control, and calm has returned to the market. More details will be provided as investigations progress, Ikenga stated.
The killings have reignited debate over the conduct of task force operatives in the state, with calls mounting for the government to reform their operations and prevent further loss of innocent lives.
