Onitsha: One Dead, Several Injured in Clash Between Anambra Youths, Anti-tout Operatives

In a sad event along the Onitsha-Owerri Road by Obodoukwu Junction, Onitsha, Anambra State, chaos erupted on Thursday as a stray bullet fired by individuals believed to be operatives of the Anambra State Anti-touts Agency claimed the life of a young man.

The victim, identified as Chimezie from Achina, Aguata Local Government Area, had just completed his National Youth Service Corps and tragically lost his life while standing on the balcony of his residence near Okpoko Police Station in Ogbaru Local Government Area.

Reports indicate that irate youths, protesting incessant arrests and harassment by the anti-tout squad, marched from the Metallurgical Training Institute to the Amanato area of the road, causing disruptions with bonfires on both lanes of the Onitsha-Owerri Road.

Eyewitnesses claim that the armed operatives, attempting to disperse the protesters, resorted to firing in the air, resulting in panic among residents and traders. Unfortunately, a stray bullet found its mark, fatally striking the young man on his balcony.

Sources reveal that the protesting youths were decrying the arbitrary arrests, intimidation, and harassment by the anti-tout squad, accusing them of extortion under the guise of collecting revenue for the state government.

Efforts by officers from Okpoko Police Station to quell the situation and evacuate the deceased proved challenging amid the ongoing tensions. A senior police officer, speaking anonymously, confirmed the victim’s death, attributing it to the unprofessional handling of firearms by the anti-tout operatives.

The tragic incident has sparked outrage among locals, raising concerns about the use of force by law enforcement agencies. As the community grapples with this loss, questions linger about the circumstances surrounding the clash and the actions of the Anambra State Anti-touts Agency.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, Ikenga Tochukwu, remains unreachable at the time of this report, leaving many seeking answers about the events leading to this fatal confrontation.