Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, has ordered the immediate arrest and prosecution of members of the Operation Clean and Healthy Anambra (OCHA) Brigade involved in a shooting incident near Emeka Offor Plaza, Onitsha Main Market.
The governor directed that the suspects be handed over to the police for prosecution, while assuring that full medical treatment would be provided for those injured.
This was disclosed in a statement on Tuesday by the state Commissioner for Information, Law Mefor.
The OCHA Brigade, a task force responsible for enforcing environmental and sanitation laws, has long faced allegations of harassment, extortion, and excessive force. Tensions boiled over on Tuesday when its operatives reportedly opened fire during enforcement operations, sparking chaos in the busy commercial hub. Eyewitnesses claimed that casualties included a pregnant woman.
Confirming the development, Mefor said the government was closely monitoring the situation at Onitsha Main Market.
The statement read in part:
Mefor added that normalcy has since been restored by the police, who have intensified patrols and monitoring in the area to ensure peace is maintained.
