There was chaos near the ever-busy axis of Emeka Offor Plaza, Onitsha Main Market, on Tuesday when operatives of the Operation Clean And Healthy Anambra Brigade, also known as the “OCHA Brigade,” allegedly opened fire, killing four persons, including a pregnant woman.
According to eyewitnesses on the site, the act caused panic and fury among shopkeepers and locals, who fled for safety.
The OCHA Brigade is Anambra’s state-run enforcement organization in charge of ensuring environmental sustainability, implementing government policies on cleanliness, order, and discipline, and enhancing the state’s overall health.
Its activities include removing unlawful structures, enforcing correct garbage disposal, keeping roadways free of impediments such as roadside trade, and seizing merchandise from illicit businesses.
According to an eyewitness near the scene and a trader in the market who identified herself simply as Chinwendu, “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 sparked considerable outrage, with vendors complaining that OCHA Brigade operatives have been terrorising them at the marketplaces.
When approached about the development, Tochukwu Ikenga, Spokesman for the Anambra State Police Command, verified the incident and stated that the situation is under control and that tranquility has returned to the market.
“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,” Ikenga added.
