Bridge Head crisis: Four injured traders discharged, as CP orders investigation into alleged police midnight raid

By Ifeizu Joe 

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

The incident caused traffic gridlock in the entire Onitsha, after a man said to be carrying drugs to the motor park for waybill tried to escape arrest by police operatives, leading to attempt by thugs to attack security operative, a move that led to violence.

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

THE RAZOR enquiry shows that four out of the six have already been discharged, while two more who are still being hospitalized are also being taken care of by the Police Area Command in Onitsha, led by ACP Tope Fasugba.

The 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 were thinking it was police against traders of Bridge Head, but 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 see a way to deescalate 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 midnight raid of drugs in the market by police operatives.

A report had by a national daily had alleged that the police were engaging in midnight raid and also confiscating goods for no reason.

The Police Public Relations Officer, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, said 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.

But our source who is also a police officer, but pleaded not to be named because he was not commissioned to speak 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.

“He has been very proactive in ensuring the fight against hard drugs use and it’s sales, and we are not surprised that those people are today fighting him with fake and unsubstantiated reports. Investigation will prove them wrong,” the source said.