By Chukwudi Ebele
A cross section of Onitsha Bridgehead medicine dealers association (Ogbogwu) under the auspices of Virtues for Ogbogwu market traders Association has commended Anambra State Commissioner of Police, Nnanna Oji Ama for his timely intervention during the recent shooting and wounding of some members of the association by those they described as over-zealous policemen attached to Onitsha Bridgehead Police Division.
The medicine dealers also appreciated the Police helmsman for picking the medical bills of the gunshot victims and at the same time promising to carry out discreet and impartial investigation into the shooting with a view to ascertaining the circumstances surrounding the incident, describing him as an erudite police officer.
In a press release issued in Onitsha weekend, the cross section of the medicine dealers, under the platform of Virtues for Ogbogwu Market Traders Association, said they were impressed by the unbiased attitude of CP Ama seeking peace, adding that as a peace seeker, he must surely see peace.
“The press release signed by Comrade Chibueze Ifejiofor partly reads: ….”The Virtues for Ogbogwu market traders Association on behalf of many grateful traders in Ogbogwu market who appreciate good deeds wishes to thank you CP Nnanna Oji Ama for coming to the rescue of the wounded traders and other victims of the police shooting which nearly took the lives of people had it not been your timely intervention and acceptance to foot the medical bills of the victims.
“It shows you have milk of human kindness, good character and an integrity to protect. Your action towards investigating the cause of the shooting and summoning a serious meeting with officers from the Onitsha Area Command to advise them shows intentionality to reposition the face of the Nigerian Police. Thank you .
“Also, Kindly use your good office to call your men and other security agencies to order by putting a permanent solution to these harassments which have been scaring away customers who come to do business in Anambra State with their hard earned money”.
Leader of the association, Chibueze Ifejiofor, their Secretary, Eminus Onyeghara and PRO, Prince Friday Osisi however made a passionate appeal to the CP to save traders from incessant harassment by some policemen who encircled the market from morning till night and extort their customers with frivolous accusations that they were buying fake and substandard drugs, adding that even when the traders have nothing to do with illicit drugs, such a constant harassment and extortion has led to the driving away of their customers coming to patronize them from far and near.
They alleged that the Chairman of the Caretaker Committee of the Ogbogwu market, Ndubuisi Chukwuleta was not only a torn in the flesh of the traders but has been complacent on matters concerning incessant harassment of Ogbogwu market traders which has led to the shooting, extortion and unlawful detention of traders with impunity.
“Some years ago, under his watch security agents shot someone dead around this Ogbogwu market and up till today nothing was said or done about it. Instead of holding a strategic meeting with various security agencies involved with these harassment with the view of finding a lasting solution, a so called Market Chairman will always say as far it did not happen inside the Ogbogwu market,it is not his business,” alleged Osisi.
Before the last major incident, security agents trailed someone from outside till they entered inside one of the lines in this market to make arrest without the leadership of the market having privy knowledge about it, except for our intervention they would have abducted him. Remember that oftentimes these security agents are dressed in mufti. Secondly, someone can be kidnapped in the guise of arrest for interrogation,” alleged Onyeghara .
“Mr Chukwuleta lacks capacity to control or broker understanding with security agencies to stop these incessant raids after all they are not members of NAFDAC. The only way to restore total peace in the market and make it move forward is to dissolve the caretaker committee which had stayed for over four years with little or nothing to show and conduct an election of new executive in the market, they said.
Reacting to the call for the dissolution of the caretaker committee of the market and the conduct an election that will usher in a democratically elected executive of Ogbogwu, the Permanent Secretary of Anambra State Ministry of Trade and Commerce, Chief Michael Obiekwe who spoke to newsmen on phone, said the election is due, adding that the ministry is eagerly awaiting Governor Chukwuma Soludo to give a go-ahead order and possibly a date for the conduct of the election.
Moreover, in his reaction to the police shooting incident, the Police Area Commander for Onitsha, ACP Temitope Fasugba told newsmen in his office that four policemen are currently in detention and investigation at the state Criminal Investigations Department, CID in connection with the incident which he described as very unfortunate.
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