ONITSHA, ANAMBRA STATE — Operations and commercial activities around the popular Ogbogwu Market and the Onitsha Head Bridge axis were disrupted on Wednesday following a shooting incident involving police officers and local traders, which left a young businessman hospitalized with gunshot wounds.
According to eyewitness accounts and local trader accounts shared online, the victim was reportedly en route to dispatch goods for delivery when he was struck by a bullet fired by an officer operating in the commercial district. Traders at the market expressed outrage over the shooting, maintaining that the victim was carrying out his lawful business and calling on security agencies to protect innocent citizens rather than subject them to harm.
Responding to the rising tensions, the Anambra State Police Command confirmed the incident, stating that the shooting occurred during a confrontation while officers were attempting to execute an arrest. According to a statement issued by the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, suspects allegedly resisted arrest, resulting in the discharge of a firearm that left individuals injured.
The Commissioner of Police for Anambra State, CP Nnanna Oji Ama, personally visited the scene and addressed the gathered crowd at the Onitsha Head Bridge to de-escalate the situation. CP Ama subsequently visited the injured victims at the hospital, promising that the police command would cover their medical expenses and prioritize their full recovery.
“The immediate priority of the Command is to ensure that the victims recover fully,” the Commissioner stated during his hospital visit.
CP Ama has ordered a comprehensive and impartial investigation into the precise circumstances leading to the firing of the weapon, promising that any officer found guilty of misconduct or unprofessionalism will face appropriate disciplinary and legal action. He appealed to traders, youth groups, and the general public to maintain peace and allow the internal investigation to proceed without disruption.
Following the intervention of senior police officials, normal vehicular traffic and human movement around the Onitsha Head Bridge area have been restored, though local trader unions continue to demand strict accountability and systemic reforms in policing across commercial hubs in the state.