Anambra Market Plunged into Chaos as Trader is Fatally Shot by Anti-Touting Squad

Late Friday chaos erupted at the Science Equipment Market, Onitsha Bridgehead in Anambra when members of the Anambra State Anti-Touting Squad allegedly shot and killed a trader, leaving several others injured.

The incident unfolded when the squad entered the market in pursuit of an individual who had reportedly urinated in a restricted area and sought refuge among the market stalls. Eyewitnesses described the operatives firing indiscriminately for over two hours, causing panic among traders who fled for safety, resulting in widespread destruction and looting of merchandise.

Okonkwo, a trader at the scene, lamented the tragic events, stating, “Yesterday was a black Friday in this market; the operatives killed a man simply because he urinated along the Onitsha-Asaba Expressway.”

The situation escalated as the operatives allegedly sealed off public toilets and extorted money from individuals caught urinating outside. Two bystanders were hit by stray bullets, adding to the toll of casualties.

Upon investigation, the Anambra State Police Command’s spokesperson, DSP Tochukwu Ikenga, confirmed the incident. The Commissioner of Police, Aderemi Adeoye, has ordered a prompt probe into the matter. Ikenga reported, “The victims were rushed to the hospital where the doctor confirmed one dead. The police also recovered six expended cartridges from the scene.”

This incident comes on the heels of a similar tragedy in December 2023, when a stray bullet, believed to be from the same Anti-Touting Squad, claimed the life of a young man named Chimezie in the Onitsha-Owerri Road area. The victim, who had recently completed his mandatory national service, was struck while standing on the balcony of his residence.