Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
Pandemonium erupted at the River Niger Head Bridge in Onitsha, Anambra State, on Wednesday, August 19, 2026, after a policeman allegedly shot a trader over a dispute involving an N5,000 bribe. The shooting, which occurred around noon at the Bridge Head Market, sparked a violent protest that disrupted businesses and traffic along the busy Onitsha-Awka Expressway for hours.
According to multiple reports, the victim was an apprentice trader pushing pharmaceutical products in a wheelbarrow to a motor park, intending to waybill them to a customer, when he was accosted by policemen who allegedly target traders at the Ogbogwu drug market for arrest and settlement. In the ensuing scuffle, the policeman allegedly shot at the trader. While some sources said one trader was shot, other reports indicated that two traders sustained gunshot injuries to their legs and hands. The policeman who carried out the shooting was said to have quickly disappeared from the scene.
The shooting infuriated traders, who immediately blocked the road in protest, causing a massive traffic gridlock along the Onitsha-Asaba-Enugu Expressway. Angry traders were seen burning tyres and lamenting the shooting of their colleagues. The area remained in chaos until the arrival of additional police teams.
One of the victims, speaking from his hospital bed after regaining consciousness, gave a different account of the incident. He said he was not involved in the disagreement between the policemen and the other persons. "I'm from Anambra State. I load goods at the Ogbogwu Market Junction. I saw two people struggling and I went there and started asking what they were struggling for, not knowing that one of them was a policeman because he was in mufti and not in uniform. He hid his gun. It was immediately I asked them that question that he brought out his gun and shot me. I could not even ask him what I did wrong that warranted shooting me because I fainted and lost consciousness immediately after the gunshot. He did not even ask me any question before shooting me," he said.
The Anambra State Commissioner of Police, CP Nnanna Oji Ama, personally visited the scene and addressed aggrieved traders. He said the incident arose from a confrontation during an attempted arrest, stating that the immediate priority of the command was to ensure that the victims recover fully. The CP subsequently visited the victims at the hospital, where he assured them of the command's support and pledged to personally ensure that their medical expenses were covered.
The police spokesperson, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, said the incident occurred when suspects allegedly resisted arrest, resulting in gunshot injuries. He stated that the CP had ordered a thorough and impartial investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident, particularly the events leading to the discharge of the firearm. The CP stressed that the investigation would establish the facts and ensure that appropriate action was taken based on its findings. He appealed for calm and urged members of the public to remain peaceful and allow the investigation to run its course. He also reiterated the command's commitment to professionalism, accountability, respect for human life, and the rule of law.
Following the CP's intervention, traffic and human movement around the Head Bridge area gradually returned to normal. The shooting has raised fresh concerns over police conduct and the prevalence of extortion in Onitsha's commercial hubs. For the traders of Ogbogwu Market, the incident is a stark reminder of the daily risks they face in the pursuit of their livelihoods. As the investigation continues, the question remains whether justice will be served and whether the trigger-happy officers who terrorise traders will finally be held accountable.
📩 Stone Reporters News | 🌍 stonereportersnews.com
✉️ info@stonereportersnews.com | 📘 Facebook: Stone Reporters News | 🐦 X (Twitter): @StoneReportNew | 📸 Instagram: @stonereportersnews
Add comment
Comments