There was pandemonium near the ever-busy axis of Emeka Offor Plaza, Onitsha Main Market, on Tuesday, when operatives of the Operation Clean And Healthy Anambra Brigade, otherwise 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 include 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 identified herself simply as Chinwendu 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 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 fueled widespread anger, with the traders lamenting how operatives of the OCHA Brigade have been terrorising them at the markets.

When contacted on the development, the Spokesman for the Anambra State Police Command, 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, 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. (PUNCH)