Gunfire Erupts in Onitsha Main Market as Traders Clash with Ocha Brigade — Police Restore Calm, One Dead, Six Injured
By Oge Onyeanusi, Onitsha
Onitsha Main Market, the commercial heartbeat of Anambra State, was thrown into chaos yesterday after a violent confrontation between traders and operatives of the Ocha Brigade, the state’s Environmental Law Enforcement outfit, left one person dead and six others nursing gunshot wounds.
The incident, which occurred in the early hours of Tuesday, September 9, 2025, sparked panic among traders who scampered for safety as gunshots rang out in the crowded market. According to reports, the clash erupted during an altercation between Ocha Brigade personnel and some traders, leading to the tragic shooting.
The Anambra State Police Command confirmed that one of the victims, identified as 22-year-old Miss Chinwe Igwe, was confirmed dead on arrival at the hospital, while six others — including Ebuka Orakwe, Orum Oluebube, Anthony Kosisochukwu, Ifeoma Ezema, and two yet-to-be-identified traders — are currently receiving treatment and responding positively.
Commissioner of Police CP Ikioye Orutugu swiftly deployed tactical teams, led by the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Operations, alongside the Area Commander Onitsha, the Divisional Police Officer of Main Market, and the Commander of the Anti-Cultism Squad, to the scene. The operatives quickly restored order, dispersing angry crowds and urging traders to return to their businesses.
Police Public Relations Officer SP Tochukwu Ikenga said calm has since returned to the market and assured that sustained patrols and monitoring are ongoing to prevent a recurrence.
Meanwhile, the police have invited the management of the Ocha Brigade to identify the operatives involved in the shooting for prosecution.
The incident has rekindled concerns over the activities of local enforcement agencies in Anambra, with traders demanding justice for the victims and stricter oversight of security outfits operating in the state.
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