Anambra OCHA Brigade Operatives Arrested After Pregnant Woman, Traders Shot Dead in Onitsha
Tension gripped Onitsha Main Market on Tuesday after operatives of the Operation Clean and Healthy Anambra State (OCHA Brigade) were accused of opening fire during an enforcement exercise, killing a pregnant woman and at least four traders.
The incident reportedly occurred near Emeka Offor Plaza, when OCHA officials attempted to disperse traders displaying goods by the roadside. Eyewitnesses said an altercation broke out, leading to sporadic gunfire that sent residents and traders fleeing in panic.
One eyewitness, Chinwendu, told reporters:
“The operatives came and forcefully ordered traders to remove their wares. A scuffle ensued, and suddenly they started shooting. Stray bullets hit innocent people, including a pregnant woman. Their lifeless bodies were later carried away by police.”
Another witness added that some of the operatives abandoned their uniforms and fled to avoid being lynched by angry traders.
Conflicting Casualty Figures
While eyewitnesses insisted five people died, including a pregnant woman, police authorities reported one confirmed death with four others injured and receiving treatment at the Federal Medical Centre, Onitsha.
Medical staff disclosed that one of the victims, who sustained severe facial injuries, was in critical condition with slim chances of survival.
Government and Police Response
The Managing Director of OCHA Brigade, Mr. Celestine Anere, condemned the incident, stressing that the enforcement operation was unauthorised and not sanctioned by the agency.
“Those involved have been taken into custody and will be handed over to the police and DSS for investigation. Such actions contradict the clear standards guiding the brigade,” he said.
The Anambra State Police Command, through its spokesman SP Tochukwu Ikenga, confirmed that the arrested operatives would face prosecution after investigations.
Meanwhile, Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s administration assured residents that discipline and accountability remain central to its enforcement strategy, vowing that any operative found culpable would face strict sanctions.
Public Outrage
The killings have sparked widespread condemnation, with traders accusing OCHA operatives of harassment, brutality, and extortion in the markets.
Angry traders reportedly blocked nearby roads in protest, breaking bottles and vowing to resist further intimidation by state-backed enforcement agents.
For now, calm has returned to Onitsha, but the incident has heightened calls for stricter regulation and oversight of OCHA Brigade’s activities across Anambra State.
