By Chuks Eke
Confusion erupted near the ever busy axis of Emeka Offor Plaza, Onitsha Main Market on Tuesday as operatives of the Operation Clean And Healthy Anambra state popularly known as ‘OCHA Brigade, allegedly opened fire leaving no fewer than four people, including a pregnant woman, dead.
Eyewitnesses near the scene, said the incident created panic and outrage among traders and residents who fled the scene for safety.
The OCHA Brigade is a state-run enforcement agency in Anambra, tasked with ensuring environmental sustainability, enforcing government policies on cleanliness, order, and discipline, and improving the overall health of the state.
Its activities included clearing illegal structures, enforcing proper waste disposal, ensuring roads remain clear of obstructions like roadside trading, and confiscating products from illegal businesses.
An eyewitness near the scene and a trader in the market who preferred anonymity, 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 e 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. In the cause 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 later arrived the scene.”
The development has fueled widespread anger, with the traders lamenting how operatives of OCHA Brigade have been terrorising them at the markets.
When contacted on the development, the Spokesman for the Anambra State Police Command, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, confirmed the incident, saying that the situation is under control and calm has returned to the market.
“Although, we have not got the full details, but we have 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.
The state Commissioner of Police, Ikioye Orutugu was said to have rushed to the scene to take an inventory of the incident and quel the situation .
All efforts to get in touch with the leader of OCHA Brigade in charge of Onitsha main market unit, simply known as Zuby proved abortive as his phone remained switched off but sources said his official vehicle and office were set ablaze by the angry mob.
