The Awka Branch of the Nigerian Bar Association has condemned the alleged assault on a lawyer, Charles Ifeanyi, by operatives of the Operation Clean and Healthy Anambra Brigade, otherwise known as “OCHA Brigade”, calling on the Anambra State Government and relevant agencies to probe the incident.
On Wednesday that the lawyer was allegedly assaulted by the men of the OCHA Brigade on Monday.
The OCHA Brigade is a state-run enforcement agency in Anambra tasked with ensuring environmental sustainability, enforcing government policies on cleanliness, order, and discipline, and improving the overall health of the state.
Its activities include clearing illegal structures, enforcing proper waste disposal, ensuring roads remain free from obstructions such as roadside trading, and confiscating goods from illegal businesses.
In a letter dated January 21, the Publicity Secretary of the NBA, Awka Branch, Michael Ozojiofor, stated that the assault occurred on Monday at the popular Eke-Awka Market in Awka, the Anambra State capital.
Ozojiofor said the lawyer was assaulted and brutalised by operatives of the OCHA Brigade, including “Agunaechemba”, under a false allegation that he was interfering with their enforcement exercise.
He attached videos of the incident to the letter, showing the lawyer being dragged into the OCHA Brigade’s vehicle while traders and passers-by recorded the scenario.
He wrote, “Assault on a lawyer by OCHA Brigade: I was at the Central Police Station, Awka, attending to a client when I got a call from Charles Ifeanyi’s number. I picked up, and the voice identified himself as the brother of Charles and said that he was instructed to call me.
“I notified him that I wasn’t disposed of and sent him the number of the Secretary of the Human Rights Committee, NBA, Awka Branch.
“The pictures and videos below depict the face of the lawyer that was beaten by the operatives of the OCHA Brigade without any good reason.
“When the Human Rights Team of the NBA, Awka Branch, got there, the OCHA Brigade operatives alleged that they were on a duty of enforcement, and the lawyer challenged them.
“He was locked up in their cell with his brother who came to find out what transpired.”
According to him, the OCHA Brigade denied the Human Rights Committee of the NBA, Awka Branch, access to the lawyer in their custody and threatened to lock them up where they had locked up “Onye Eze Jesus.”
“That is the level of impunity that has been witnessed and meted out to innocent residents by the OCHA Brigade for a long time now.
“They were also using Agunaechemba operatives to harass people. Even as the lawyers stood, the Agunaechemba asked the OCHA Brigade if they should handle the lawyers from the Human Rights Committee as well in the same manner.
“I am calling the attention of the Commissioner for Information, Law Mefor, and the Nigeria Police Force to this persistent impunity that has been left uncurtailed and unchecked.
“The Branch condemns vehemently the actions of the OCHA Brigade team while reiterating that steps will be taken to ensure that those culpable face the music.
“This impunity and lawlessness by the OCHA Brigade, Agunaechemba and their likes, which has persisted under the current administration, has to stop.”
When contacted on Wednesday, the embattled lawyer, Charles Ifeanyi, said the incident occurred between 3pm and 5pm at Ezenwa Plaza in Eke-Awka Market.
He said, “It was unfortunate that something like that occurred in the first place because nobody deserves to go through what I passed through in the hands of the men of OCHA Brigade.
“I was at the market when some OCHA Brigade officials were confiscating a trader’s goods, and as they were doing so, some of the items were falling off, and the owner of the goods was following the official and begging him, but suddenly, the OCHA Brigade official turned and slapped the trader heavily.
“I only asked the official why he slapped the trader who did not provoke him. Before I knew it, other officials numbering about 15 descended upon me, and started beating me, and I hit my head on the pavement.
“They seriously manhandled me, after which they handcuffed and dragged me like a common criminal for a few metres to where they parked their vehicle opposite Ezenwa Plaza and threw me into the vehicle. They also seized the mobile phones of some people making videos.
“Also, in their vehicle, men of the Agunaechemba joined them in beating me and thereafter took me to their cell in Awka, where they locked me up for some hours until they released me late in the night. They brutalised me and inflicted serious bodily injuries on all parts of my body, including my head.
“I am just coming back from Amaku Hospital, where I conducted a series of tests, and the results are not yet available.
“We have petitioned the state Commissioner of Police and copied the Commissioner for Environment, who supervises OCHA Brigade, to probe the matter. It is when the results of the test I conducted come out that I will know the level of damage, whether it is life-threatening or not.”
When contacted about the development, the state Commissioner for Information, Law Mefor, confirmed the incident, saying, “Although it was wrong for the officials to manhandle anyone, I discussed it with the OCHA Brigade Commander today, and he told me the lawyer challenged the enforcement team, but notwithstanding, an investigation will be carried out.”
Efforts to reach the Commissioner for Environment, Felix Odimegwu, whose ministry supervises the OCHA Brigade, proved abortive as he did not respond to calls or messages.
On September 9, 2025, there was pandemonium near the ever-busy axis of Emeka Offor Plaza, Onitsha Main Market, when operatives of the Operation Clean and Healthy Anambra Brigade allegedly opened fire, leaving no fewer than four people, including a pregnant woman, dead.
Eyewitnesses said the shooting created panic among traders and residents who fled for safety.
An eyewitness and trader, who identified herself simply as Chinwendu, said, “The incident occurred this morning as some traders were displaying their wares. The operatives of OCHA Brigade came to the place and forcefully ordered them to remove their wares.”
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