In response to the recent fatal shooting at Onitsha Main Market, Governor Charles Soludo of Anambra State has “ordered the arrest and prosecution” of the officials from the Operation Clean and Healthy Anambra Brigade (OCHA) who fired on traders.
The state’s Commissioner for Information, Law Mefor, released a statement about the governor’s decision on Tuesday night.
The OCHA Brigade is a state-run environmental task force responsible for maintaining a clean environment, often by clearing illegal structures and seizing goods that block roads, especially near markets.
The shooting occurred after the “enforcement officials opened fire on some traders when the traders resisted the attempt to confiscate their wares.”
The police confirmed that out of the seven traders shot, one woman has died. However, witnesses claim that at least four people were killed in the incident, which took place around 10 a.m. on Tuesday near the Emeka Plaza Axis of the market.
While the OCHA Brigade officials themselves do not carry firearms, they are reportedly accompanied by armed operatives of the Agunechemba Vigilante Group during their operations.
In his statement, Mefor said Governor Soludo has ordered that the officials responsible for the shooting “be arrested and handed over to the police for prosecution.” He also stated, “An investigation into the incident has commenced, and the government will ensure that all necessary measures are taken to prevent similar occurrences in the future.”
The commissioner also thanked the state police for their “swift intervention” in restoring order and said the governor has directed that the medical bills of the injured victims should be “taken care of.”