Anambra: Onitsha market leaders debunk police raid, N50m goods seizure claim

The leadership of the Ozomagana Building Materials Market Traders Association (BMMTA) Onitsha, Anambra state, has dismissed reports alleging that policemen attached to the Onitsha area command raided shops in the market and seized goods worth about N50 million.

The association’s chairman, Mr. Obiora Okoro, and secretary, Mr. Patrick Obiekwe, separately described the reports as false and capable of damaging the cordial relationship between traders and the police.

The market leaders, who spoke with newsmen weekend, said they were surprised to read reports published by some media and online platforms claiming that police officers allegedly raided shops in the market and, on August 9, 2026, confiscated goods valued at more than N50 million from a shop identified as No. 52.

He said neither the association nor its recognised leadership was aware of such an incident.

They also disowned an individual identified as Nnanunyelugo Elias, who was reportedly presented in some reports as a spokesperson for traders in the market.

Okoro and Obiekwe said the reports did not represent the position of the association or the traders, adding that no such complaint had been brought before the leadership.

The controversy followed allegations that some police officers attached to the Onitsha area command had been conducting night raids on shops in the market and allegedly removing goods without presenting search warrants, court orders or other documents authorising such operations.

The allegations further claimed that the purported raids were often carried out around 10 p.m., after traders and their workers had left the market.

However, the Onitsha Area Commander, Assistant Commissioner of Police, Temitope Fasugba, denied the allegations and described the publication as an embarrassment to personnel of the command.