Mayhem in Onitsha as Ocha Brigade kills 2

…..as scores sustain bullet injuries, office, vehicle set ablaze

By Cyprian Ebele, Onitsha

Mayhem erupted in Onitsha, Anambra state commercial hub, following the alleged shooting to death of a teenager and son to a food vendor, Mrs Chinyere Igwe, at the early hours of Tuesday, by Ocha Brigade, in charge of healthy and clean Anambra state.

It was gathered that scores sustained various degrees of injuries, vehicle belonging to the agency commander burnt with office. 

Trouble was said to have started when the Ocha Brigade stormed Bright street, Onitsha Main market with its vigilante operatives and started its operation of pouncing on Traders’ wares and confiscating them which prompted the aggrieved traders to demand return of the confiscated wares.

On the process a heated argument was said to have ensued between the agency and the traders resulting in the Ocha Brigade shooting indiscriminately and a bullet hit the son to the said food vendor who died on the spot.

The incident which coincided with the arrival of the Young Progressive Party, YYP gubernatorial candidate,  Paul Chukwuma, and his entourage to campaign in the market, was vehemently rejected by the market chairman, Chijioke Okpalaugo.

Reacting when contacted, Okpalaugo said that it was his plea to traders that saved the traders from embarking on what would have best been described as the mother of all protests.

“On a tip off that somebody was shot I rushed to the scene and pleaded to the traders not to embark on protest as miscreants will capitalize on that to cause more problem and loot wares.

“The son of a food vendor was shot dead and scores sustained various degrees of injuries. Those injured about four of them are hospitalized at Multi care hospital and only that boy died.

“While we are talking of how to save lives of those injured, the YYP party came into the market to campaign and I refused them as life is more important. It is only a fool or one who doesn’t value life that will allow the campaign to take place,” he fumed.

Contributing, a stakeholder in the market, Gilbert Okafor, (a.k.a. Igwe Bida), lamented the illegal activities of Ocha Brigade and wondered why they should carry guns in carrying out their duty.

“Thank God that the market chairman, Okpalaugo was able to talk sense into the traders who were mobilizing for a show down and took them to the Onitsha police Area Commander, Chidi Nzota, who thanked them for their peaceful protest and vowed to ensure nobody went contrary to the law.

Nzota who has maintained peaceful atmosphere since he came to Onitsha reiterated his resolve to ensure police community relationship.

Confirming the incident, the state police command said it has invited those of the agency involve to identify the suspects for prosecution

According to the state Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Tochukwu Ikenga (SP), “The Anambra State Police Command has restored calm in Onitsha Main Market following a distress call reporting that personnel of the Ocha Brigade, an Anambra State Environmental Law Enforcement outfit, allegedly engaged in an altercation with some traders, during which seven traders sustained gunshot injuries. The incident subsequently triggered unrest within the market.

“Upon receipt of the report in the early hours of 9th September 2025, the Commissioner of Police, Anambra State Command, CP Ikioye Orutugu, fwc, MNIPS, PhD, immediately deployed tactical teams and other security agencies led by the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Operations, in company with the Area Commander Onitsha, the Divisional Police Officer Main Market, and the Commander of the Anti-Cultism Squad, to the scene.