A tragic incident unfolded in Anambra State, Nigeria, when operatives of the Operation Clean and Healthy Anambra (OCHA Brigade) allegedly shot and killed a pregnant woman and three others. The shooting occurred on Tuesday morning near the Onitsha Main Market, at Emeka Offor Plaza on New Market Road, during an enforcement exercise aimed at banning street trading.
Eyewitnesses say the tragedy may have resulted from an accidental discharge by an operative, which sparked panic and outrage among traders and residents. The pregnant woman died instantly, while the condition of the other victims was initially unclear; some witnesses reported that they were rushed to the hospital for treatment.
The OCHA Brigade is a paramilitary agency tasked with maintaining order and enforcing regulations in markets across the state. Police authorities in Anambra confirmed that one woman died and four others were wounded and taken to the hospital. State Police Command spokesperson SP Tochukwu Ikenga explained that the police commissioner promptly dispatched operatives to restore calm. He said the altercation began between traders and OCHA operatives during the enforcement exercise and later escalated into sporadic gunfire.
The incident has raised concerns about the use of force by paramilitary agencies in Nigeria. The OCHA Brigade’s actions are now under scrutiny, and the state government has been urged to investigate and implement measures to prevent similar occurrences. Police have restored calm in the area, and an investigation into the shooting is ongoing. The tragedy has sparked widespread condemnation, and the community awaits the investigation’s outcome.
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