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Tension gripped Onitsha, Anambra State as personnel of the state government’s Operation Clean and Healthy Anambra (Ocha Brigade) allegedly opened fire during a confrontation with traders, leading to multiple deaths.
The clash occurred along Bright Street, opposite First Bank, when the task force moved into the Main Market to seize traders’ goods.
Eyewitnesses said the move was resisted by the traders, sparking chaos that turned violent. In the process, some operatives reportedly fired shots at the crowd.
“Happening now at Main Market Onitsha. Ocha Brigade came as usual to pack people’s goods but the owners refused to allow them, and the whole thing quickly escalated into a very ugly scene when one of the operatives started shooting directly at people at close range. According to the latest reports, two people among those shot are already dead,” an eyewitness wrote on Facebook.
Unconfirmed reports indicated that four persons, including a pregnant woman, lost their lives in the incident.
At the time of filing this report, there was no official statement from neither the Anambra State Government or the police on the matter.