Onitsha Market Leaders Deny Police Raid Claims

The leadership of the Ozomagana Building Materials Market Traders Association (BMMTA) in Onitsha, Anambra State, has denied reports of a police raid that purportedly seized goods valued at N50 million. Association chairman Obiora Okoro and secretary Patrick Obiekwe described the allegations as false and harmful to the relationship between traders and the police.

They expressed surprise at the media reports claiming that police officers from the Onitsha area command raided shops on August 9, 2026, specifically targeting a shop identified as No. 52. Okoro and Obiekwe stated that neither the association nor its recognized leadership was aware of such an incident and disowned Nnanunyelugo Elias, who was inaccurately presented as a spokesperson for the traders.

The allegations suggested that police conducted night raids without proper authorization, typically around 10 p.m. However, Onitsha Area Commander, Assistant Commissioner of Police Temitope Fasugba, denied these claims, labeling the reports as an embarrassment to the police command.