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• Only 1 person died –Police
From Obinna Odogwu, Awka
There was palpable tension in Onitsha, the commercial nerve centre of Anambra State,following the alleged killing of four people by the officials of Operation Clean and Healthy Anambra (OCHA Brigade), in the market area.
There were conflicting accounts as to the number of casualties. While sources in the market, said that four people were killed, the Police said that only one person died in the shooting incident.
According to Anambra state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) SP Tochukwu Ikenga, one person was killed during the sad incident.
According to the PPRO,there was a confrontation between the traders and the officials of the OCHA Brigade, which led to shootings by the officials of the agency.
He said that the incident, which left seven traders with gunshot injuries, triggered unrest within the market.
Ikenga said that upon the receipt of the report of the incident, the state Commissioner of Police, Ikioye Orutugu, immediately deployed tactical teams and other security agencies, led by DCP ,in charge of Operations, who was accompanied by the Area Commander Onitsha, Divisional Police Officer( DPO), Main Market Division and the Commander of the Anti-Cultism Squad, to the scene.
“The operatives swiftly addressed and calmed the traders, restoring order and dispersing them back to their shops and lawful businesses. The victims of the gunshots,Ebuka Oracle , Orum Oluebube, Anthony Kosisochukwu, Ifeoma Ezema , Chinwe Igwe and two others yet- to- be identified, were promptly evacuated to the hospital.
“Regrettably, one of the victims, Chinwe Igwe, was confirmed dead on arrival by the Doctor on duty. Her body has been deposited at the hospital morgue for autopsy and preservation. The other victims are currently receiving treatment and are responding positively”, the PPRO said.
Conversely, sources in Onitsha said that four people, including a pregnant woman,were killed even as scores were injured.
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Daily Sun gathered that the incident happened at Bright Street, near Emeka Offor Plaza ,around New Market Road.
A source told Daily Sun that trouble started in the market when officials of OCHA Brigade seized goods that were displayed by by traders on roadside.
“When some trades went to retrieve their goods from the OCHA Brigade’s vehicle, one of the officials,released a gunshot in the air ; unfortunately, it hit someone and the . person died”.
Another source said: “This is heartbreaking. Four innocent people ,who left their homes this morning ,have been cut down in cold blood.
“Among the victims is a pregnant woman. Anambra people are now living in fear because criminals have been handed guns and uniforms in the name of government enforcement agents”.
The shooting in the market area sparked panic and outrage among traders and residents. While some scampered to safety, some others staged protests.
Meanwhile, angry mobs burned two vehicles reportedly belonging to the organisation. A source who knows what goes on in the organisation said that the burnt vehicles belonged to the supervisor in charge of Onitsha Main Market.
Meanwhile, a voice in a video clip, which surfaced online, claimed that the burning vehicle belonged to OCHA Brigade’s commander.
OCHA Brigade is yet to release official statement on the incident as of the time of filing this report.
Meanwhile, the police said that the Command has extended an invitation to the management of OCHA Brigade,to identify the suspects for prosecution, noting that normalcy had since been restored in the area, while patrols and monitoring continue to ensure sustained peace.
