The Foundation for Environmental Rights Advocacy and Development (FENRAD) has condemned the killing of a pregnant woman and three others during a clash between traders and operatives of the Operation Clean and Healthy Anambra (OCHA Brigade) at the Onitsha Main Market, Anambra State.
In a statement issued on Friday by its Executive Director, Comrade Nelson Nnanna Nwafor, FENRAD described the incident as a tragic and unacceptable display of state-sanctioned violence and called for justice for the victims.
According to Nwafor, available facts indicate that the altercation began when traders resisted what they considered aggressive and unlawful actions by OCHA operatives, which escalated into a violent confrontation that led to the deaths.
“This deeply disturbing event is not an isolated case but part of a growing pattern of rampant bloodletting in Anambra State, often carried out in the name of enforcement, order, or environmental sanitation,” the statement read.
“FENRAD views this trend with grave concern, as it reflects a dangerous normalization of extrajudicial executions, particularly against unarmed civilians and vulnerable populations.”
While acknowledging the need to maintain order, FENRAD stressed that such enforcement must be lawful and humane. “The use of excessive force, intimidation, or lethal violence in public spaces, particularly commercial hubs like Onitsha Main Market, is not only unlawful but also counterproductive,” Nwafor said.
The group expressed alarm over the frequency of violent enforcement incidents in the state, describing it as a systemic failure of oversight, regulation, and protection of human rights.
FENRAD demanded the immediate suspension and prosecution of all OCHA operatives involved in the killings, an independent investigation into the incident, public apologies and compensation for the victims’ families, and a review of enforcement protocols across the state to ensure respect for human rights.
The group also urged Governor Charles Soludo to take decisive action to end what it described as a cycle of violence and restore public confidence in state institutions.
“We extend our condolences to the families of the victims and stand in solidarity with the affected communities. Governor Soludo must act decisively to bring the perpetrators to justice and ensure that innocent blood is never shed again in the name of enforcement,” the statement added.
