From Nweke Nweke, Awka
Traders in Ogbaru Main Market near Onitsha Anambra State are now counting their loses after the alleged invention of the market by an-eye-red plain cloths security operatives that stormed the market few days now, having shot one, leaving many with degrees of casualties.
Sources within the market hinted 247ureports.com that on the arrival of the armed security operatives, they started shooting sporadically aimed at scaring away people to avoid been questioned their mission in the market.
It was reliably gathered that the plain cloths security operatives had targeted the absence of the President General of the market, (Chief Cyprian Okoye) before their arrival. The well armed men were said to have rough handled many of their victims and allegedly confiscated assorted types of goods.
One of the victims (names withheld) who spoke to this reporter on his sick bed in one of the hospitals at Awada Obosi as a result of the gunshot on his leg, said that he was arrested and forced to take the plain cloths security operatives to some sections of the market but his refusal to yield to the instruction of the security operatives, made them to shoot him on his right foot.
247ureports.com gathered that the plain cloths security operatives had invaded the market to handpick the suspected adulterators of beverages and other products. The invasion is today generating serious critics from far and near.
The operation, according to our sources, allegedly led to the unlawful confiscation of hundreds of carton of beverages and other notable products by the plain cloths security operatives even without dropping any paper to authenticate the seizure of the said products.
Confirming the incident, the President General of the market, Chief Cyprian Okoye, popularly known as CYMACO said he was out of the market on the day of the incident, stating that on his arrival, he made contact and established that the men of the Department of State Services, Anambra State Command were the people who came, arrested and whisked away seven of the traders to their office Awka from the market.
“Gentlemen of the press, it beats my imagination that the men of DSS, Anambra State Command will come into our market for an operation without informing the leadership of the market and inquiries I made so far revealed that they never booked their arrival at Okpoko Police Divisional Headquarters nor even their office at Onitsha.”
“We are in the market and we have been doing our best to rid the market out of any product that has to do with adulterations. It is our guiding principle that we normally welcome security personnel who will come into our market for his/her official assignment(s) as such visit empowers us to give them highly required assistance. But in this case, they stormed the market and whisked away our members as if there is no leadership in the market” He stated.
When asked his next line of action, CYMACO as he is fondly called said he is calling on the authorities concerned to properly investigated the alleged invasion of the market even as he stated that his administration should not held responsible for any other invasion, maltreatment and assault of any trader by the security operatives.
Efforts made to reach the State Director of DSS, Anambra State Command as at the time of filing this report failed but his Commander in Onitsha confirmed the invasion of the market but denied the allegation that someone was shoot even as he made it clear that they were in the market to help other security agencies in curbing the menace of adulterations in the market, Anambra State and Nigeria by extension. We will keep you posted as event unfolds.
