Bridge Head Violence: Injured traders discharged, CP orders investigation into midnight raids

Four traders at the Bridge Head drug market in Onitsha who were caught up in a shooting incident at the market last week have been discharged.

A man said to be conveying drugs to the motor park for waybill reportedly tried to evade police arrest; thugs in the area then attacked a security operative in a bid to shield the suspect, leading to violence and injuries to innocent members of the public.

The Commissioner of Police in Anambra, CP Nnanna Oji Ama, who visited the scene, de-escalated the violence and also promised to take care of about six persons who sustained injuries during the incident.

DAILY POST reports that four of the six injured victims have already been discharged, while two who are still hospitalised are being cared for by the Police Area Command in Onitsha, led by ACP Tope Fasugba.

A police source who disclosed this said: “The incident has cost the area command a lot of money. Thank God for the new CP, Oji Ama and the Area Commander, ACP Tope Fasugba, who have large hearts and have been ensuring the welfare of the victims.

“Four of them have been discharged, while two are still receiving treatment. Though people thought it was police against traders at the Bridge Head, the truth was that the problem was caused by touts. But because of the large heart of the CP and the Area Commander, they decided to take charge and find a way to de-escalate the incident for the sake of peace.

Meanwhile, the Anambra State Commissioner of Police, CP Nnanna Oji Ama, has ordered a full investigation into the allegations of a midnight raid of the market by police operatives.

A news report had emerged alleging that the police were conducting midnight raids in the market and also confiscating goods for no reason, but the Police Public Relations Officer, Tochukwu Ikenga, warned in a statement on Thursday that the CP takes such allegations seriously and has directed that the necessary investigative process be activated, especially regarding the specific claims against the named officers.

However, our source, who is also a police officer, said the report was simply false, and expressed happiness that the CP has commissioned an investigation into the matter.

He said: “We are insiders and we know what is happening. Those who sponsored that false report want to get at the Area Commander, ASP Tope Fasugba, the same man who has been a pain in the neck of hard-drugs sellers in the city.