■ Calls mount for disbandment of state-backed security outfit
By Chuks Moses | Awka | September 9, 2025
Chaos erupted in the commercial city of Onitsha on Tuesday after operatives of the Anambra State Government’s security outfit, Operation Clean and Healthy Anambra (OCHA) Brigade, allegedly shot and killed four persons, including a heavily pregnant woman, during an altercation with traders at the Emeka Offor Plaza section of the Onitsha Main Market.
But Police insist only one person died, while operatives of OCHA Brigade, who were involved in the shooting incident have been arrested.
The Anambra State Government reaffirmed its commitment to law, order and public accountability, stating that operatives who went on the exercise that led to the shooting were unauthorised.
The Managing Director of the OCHA Brigade, Mr Celestine Anere, clarified that: “The operation was not approved by the leadership of the agency, and such unsanctioned actions contradict the clear standards guiding the operations of the Brigade.
“Those involved have been taken into custody and will be handed over to the Police and the Department of State Services (DSS) for thorough investigation.”
He assured that any staff found culpable will face decisive sanctions, while reaffirming that all enforcement activities of the OCHA Brigade must strictly align with the law establishing the agency.
Eyewitnesses said the incident, which occurred around midday, escalated rapidly following a confrontation between traders and OCHA Brigade officials. The officials, accompanied by armed security personnel, reportedly stormed the area to enforce restrictions on street trading and the use of unauthorized market spaces.
The traders, however, claimed they were operating legally and had paid the required levies to both state and local government authorities. Eyewitnesses allege that despite these claims, OCHA officials began confiscating wares, prompting resistance and a heated exchange.
As tensions flared, the situation reportedly spiraled out of control, with OCHA operatives allegedly opening fire into the crowd. Four people, including a pregnant woman, were confirmed dead at the scene, while several others sustained critical injuries.
In the aftermath of the killings, widespread protests broke out across Onitsha and nearby towns including Nkpor, Ogidi, Oba, and parts of Awka. Aggrieved youths took to the streets, setting fire to vehicles and vandalising property, including an SUV reportedly belonging to the OCHA Brigade commander. Protesters were seen chanting anti-government slogans and demanding the immediate resignation of Governor Chukwuma Soludo and the dissolution of the OCHA Brigade.
The atmosphere remained tense as shops hurriedly shut down in fear of further violence. Markets in other parts of the state, such as Eke Awka, Oye Agu, and Afor Nnobi, also experienced early closures as panic spread.
The OCHA Brigade, a paramilitary agency established by Governor Soludo’s administration, is tasked with maintaining environmental cleanliness, regulating street trading, and clearing illegal structures. However, it has faced repeated criticism over allegations of excessive use of force and human rights abuses.
As of press time, there has been no official statement from the Anambra State Government or the leadership of the OCHA Brigade regarding the incident.
Calls for the disbandment of the OCHA Brigade are growing louder, with civil society groups, market unions, and residents urging the government to investigate the killings and hold those responsible accountable.
