IPOB Lawyer Ejiofor Demands Probe, Justice For Onitsha Market Traders Killed By Anambra Governor’s Enforcement Officers

Human rights lawyer, Barrister Ifeanyi Ejiofor, has strongly condemned the killing of traders at Onitsha Main Market by operatives of OCHA Brigade, an environmental law enforcement unit in Anambra State established by Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s administration.

Ejiofor demanded a comprehensive, transparent investigation into the killing and swift justice for the victims.

the OCHA Brigade operatives reportedly shot and killed a woman and injured several others at the Emeka Offor Plaza area of Onitsha Main Market.

Three additional traders are feared dead in the incident.It was gathered that the local security operatives suddenly opened fire on the traders during a clash, leading to chaos and the death of the victims.

Reacting to the incident, Ejiofor in a statement issued on Wednesday described the killing as a “massacre” that turned the day of economic recovery into one of mourning.

“Tuesday, ordinarily a day of economic recovery across the South-East, turned into a day of mourning and bitter tears in Onitsha,” Ejiofor said.

“In a region where Mondays have been forcefully silenced by the infamous and economically destructive “sit-at-home,” Tuesdays usually carry the weight of double expectations, traders, artisans, and parents striving to recover lost earnings, especially in this season of school resumption when families are struggling against the suffocating weight of skyrocketing fees and an economy gasping for breath,” he added.

Ejiofor lamented that many of the traders who left home to provide for their families “never returned,” adding that their deaths were not caused by accident or natural disaster but by “human lawlessness.”

“Instead of the buzzing hum of commerce, the stalls became drenched in blood. Instead of bargains, there were screams. Instead of profit, there was pain,” he said.

“Their crime? None. Their offence? Simply opening their shops and displaying their wares, as every normal trader would,” Ejiofor stated.

He accused the task force of operating outside its mandate.

“Their executioners? A gang of so-called enforcement agents under the umbrella of the Onitsha OCHA Brigade; a task force ostensibly established to sanitize the city and promote public order, but which, time and again, has descended into a lawless band of terror,” he said.

“One critical question begs for an urgent answer: Does the law establishing OCHA Brigade empower them to bear arms, let alone fire live ammunition at unarmed citizens?

“If not, under whose authority are these misfits brandishing lethal weapons on the streets of Onitsha?

“If yes, under what warped moral and legal justification can shooting traders at their stalls ever be excused?”

Ejiofor recalled previous cases of alleged brutality by the Brigade, including the reported assault of former Onitsha Chamber of Commerce chairman, Mr. Akaneme, which allegedly led to his death.

He said, “This is not the first time the OCHA Brigade has been caught in the web of brutality.

“Only recently, Mr. Akaneme, former chairman of the Onitsha Chamber of Commerce, was allegedly brutalized in his home by this same band of lawless state agents, an attack that tragically cut short his life.

“His death, like many others, remains an open wound, with perpetrators still roaming free, emboldened by impunity.
“The cycle is vicious: violence is unleashed, lives are wasted, families are shattered, yet no accountability follows.”

The human rights lawyer urged the state government to establish an independent monitoring committee to scrutinize the activities of enforcement task forces, stressing that their excesses must be checked to prevent further bloodshed.
“ Anambra cannot afford to continue down this bloodstained path.

“These deaths are not mere statistics. Behind each body lies a family now thrown into despair: children who will never again see the parent who left home that morning, spouses left in anguish, and communities left to mourn.”
He warned that the ongoing police investigation must not be a cover-up.
“The ongoing investigation announced by the Anambra State Police Command must not be another smokescreen.
“It must be open, transparent, and conclusive. The findings must be made public, and those responsible for this heinous massacre must face justice without delay. Anything short of this would be complicity,” Ejiofor declared.
He emphasized that the victims were not criminals but ordinary traders trying to make a living.
Ejiofor said, “Our people cannot continue to pay with their blood for the incompetence and recklessness of those tasked with ensuring their safety.
“Governance is not about setting up armed gangs; it is about protecting life and property, upholding the rule of law, and preserving the dignity of citizens.

“The traders of Onitsha Main Market were not criminals. They were fathers, mothers, brothers, and sisters, whose only desire was to earn a living.

“Their killing is a stain on the conscience of Anambra State, and history will not forgive silence in the face of such barbarity.”
Calling for justice for the victims, Ejiofor said, “The blood spilled in Onitsha is crying for justice. And until justice is served, Anambra’s conscience cannot rest.”