By PAMELA EBOH, Awka

It was a chaotic situation at the Ogbo Ogwu market area of the commercial city of Onitsha earlier on Wednesday following the alleged shooting of a man by a police officer.

According to a commercial driver who spoke to News Express, he said the incident which led to a protest by traders at the Ogbo Ogwu market happened while he was driving to Nkpor.

He said the traders blocked the road express way leading to Asaba after a police officer shot an undisclosed man, claiming he was in possession of drugs, which was not specified.

The eyewitness who gave his name simply as Emma said: “Policr operatives stopped and searched one of the victims but were unable to find any incriminating item or exhibit on him.

“They further claimed that the officers thereafter attempted to arrest and take him into their vehicle, an action the victim reportedly resisted.”

The confrontation was said to have escalated in the process, with one of the police officers allegedly firing at some of the victims, leaving them with serious gunshot injuries.

“The development reportedly angered people around the area, who subsequently blocked the expressway in protest, causing disruption to vehicular and human movement around the Head Bridge,” Emma said.

Meanwhile, the Anambra State Police Command has given a preliminary account of the incident, describing it as a confrontation that occurred during an attempted arrest

A statement by the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Tochukwu Ikenga, said the primary concern of the Commissioner of Police is for the injured to recover.

During his timely visit to the hospital where the victims were admitted, CP Oji Ama assured them of the Command’s support and personally pledged to ensure that their medical expenses were covered.

He ordered a thorough and impartial investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident, particularly the events that led to the discharge of the firearm.

The Commissioner, according to the police spokesman, stressed that the investigation would establish what actually transpired and guide whatever action that may be considered appropriate based on its findings.

He appealed for calm, urging members of the public to remain peaceful and allow the investigation to run its course.

While reiterating the Command’s commitment to professionalism, accountability, respect for human life and adherence to the rule of law, the CP added: “As of Wednesday evening, the situation around the Head Bridge had been de-escalated, with traffic and human movement restored to the area.”

The Incident had led to traders shutting down their businesses while commercial buses cut their trip to the Head Bridge, and rather dumped their passengers enroute head Bridge before the Ogbo Ogwu market as gunshots were heard in the area.

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