“Udogachi” operatives kill female passer-by at Anambra (video)

Nnewi North LG Executive Chairman condemns “alleged accidental discharge and death"

Operatives of the “Operation Udogachi”, recently inaugurated by Governor Charles Chukwuma Soludo, have killed a female passer-by, Mrs. Chiamaka Okonkwo, at Nnewi in Anambra State.

A resident of Nnewi, writing under the pseudonym Nkan’uzu Anaedo, disclosed this to Diaspora Digital Media (DDM) via WhatsApp.

Anaedo lamented the sorrows, tears and blood, as well as the rising tragedy of armed intimidation and trigger-happy incidences involving security operatives in Nnewi and environs.

Watch video below:

Narrating what transpired on the fateful day involving Udogachi operatives, he wrote:

“At exactly 18:57hrs on Wednesday, 15th April 2025, as I prepared to enter my final meeting of the day, my phone rang.

“The voice on the other end was frantic; it was someone who identified himself as Naked Wire.

“He reported that there was gridlock at Ibeto Junction, and that men from the Udogachi security outfit were at the Junction extorting commuters.

“Then, without provocation, one of them opened fire.”

The married woman, Mrs. Okonkwo, from Okpuneze Uruagu Nnewi, was hit and she died on the spot.

“She was rushed to the nearby Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, but it was too late,” Anaedo lamented.

Angry mob detain Udogachi operative

According to Anaedo, a hood of angry eyewitnesses detained one of the Udogachi operatives believed to be responsible for the shooting.

He narrated further: “One of the Udogachi operatives was reportedly detained at the scene by the eyewitness…

“The killing of this woman, a daughter of Okpuneze, Uruagu Nnewi; is one death too many.

“It speaks volumes about the lack of psychological screening and discipline in the recruitment and deployment of armed security men in Anambra State.

“We cannot allow this to go unpunished.

“The specific unit and the individual who pulled the trigger must be named, shamed, prosecuted, and held fully accountable.”

Anaedo recounted how on Sunday, March 13, security operatives shot two innocent men, Mr. Ejike Okafor and Mr. Abuchi Onwujiuba.

According to reports, the shots had hit Mr. Okafor and Mr. Onwujiuba in the leg and stomach respectively.

The shooting was reportedly in an attempt to arrest Prince Nonso Obi during the Uruagu Community Meeting held at the Obi Uruagu Palace.

Both victims are still battling for their lives in the hospital. “This is no longer acceptable,” fumed Anaedo.

(DDM‘s subsequent bulletin will present details of the shooting of Okafor and Onwujiuba.)

Call to action against Udogachi operatives

He, therefore, called out the Honourable Member Representing Nnewi North Constituency, Hon. Sir Augustine Onyekachukwu Ike (Ikedoji), and the Mayor of Nnewi North, Hon. Echezona Anazodo.

He urged them to immediately review the current state of Udogachi security formations in Nnewi North.

To ensure “psychological and mental fitness” of prospectives, Anaedo recommended a fitness test for would-be Udogachi agents.

He stated: “We must profile the psychological and mental fitness of every person authorized to carry arms in our communities wherever they are coming from and reject those we find unfit.

“We must end this creeping culture of fear, lawlessness, and intimidation by security personnel.

“Ndị Nnewi abhor bloodshed; we will not stand by while our mothers, fathers, and youths are gunned down in cold blood.

“Let me remind every public office holder that the primary duty of government is the protection of lives and property.

“We must never again allow what happened to Mrs Chiamaka Okonkwo, Mr Ejike Okafor and Mr Abuchi Onwujiuba to happen to anyone else.

“We say NO to [Udogachi] intimidation… say NEVER AGAIN to unjust killings by security agents,” he added.

Ndi Nnewi react

Nnewi residents reacted in a WhatsApp group in diverse ways to the reckless killings by Udogachi security operatives.

Below are a few reactions:

“Almost the same experience I with other passengers had with them at Amichi Check point about three weeks ago…

“These people and their activities [must] be checked.”

~~~

“Na the bullet money them Dey collect from commuters nah. U never hear them say “Nye anyi ego mgbo a mgbafuru” as if you told him to shoot.

“We wey Dey waka for night Dey meet them steady. The worst is that they are doing it with full [assurance] that nothing will happen.”

~~~

“The most provocative part is they will be at checkpoint drinking and smoking.”

~~~

“Same with me, in a Keke about same time frame… The asked a guy in my Keke to come out and raise his clothes up…

“At the other end, some commuters were having issues with them, and One of them opened fire into the air.

“The one standing by our Keke that asked one of our passengers to raise his clothes, immediately cocked his gun too…”

~~~

“The simple truth is that nothing will happen because the elders that are supposed to talk have eaten from the forbidden [fruit].

“All of them are deaf and dumb now.”

More reactions

“Same thing with us, all the way from Okigwe Imo state we didn’t get much disturbance on the road…

“[We got] to Amichi and they (Udogachi) told all the guys to come down from the vehicle including the driver and pull of their shirts

“A guy that had marks on his body (obviously it was birthmark) was stripped naked.

“He was flogged with a big stick until everyone in the vehicle started begging… they took 5k from the guy and told him to go.

“And they started accusing me of being the guy’s girlfriend because I was sitting beside him.

“It took the intervention of other passengers to convince them that I wasn’t the guy’s girlfriend.”

~~~

“The most painful part is that [whether] they shot this woman mistakenly or not… 

“I saw this woman lying down there for over 5 minutes without them doing anything until people started shouting at them!”

Nnewi North LG Executive Chairman reacts

Chairman of Nnewi North Local Government Area, Hon. Echezona Anazodo

The Executive Chairman of Nnewi North Local Government Area, Anambra State, Hon. Echezona Anazodo, has also reacted to the incident.

He condemned the “alleged accidental discharge and death of Mrs. Chiamaka Okonkwo” by Udogachi operatives.

Hon. Anazodo made the remarks in a press statement dated Wednesday, April 16, 2025.

He expressed sadness and greatly disturbance about the accidental discharge.

The incident occurred on Tuesday, April 15 at old Ibeto Bank junction, Nnewi.

He commiserated with the immediate and extended family over the “irrevocable and ugly incident” with deepest condolences.

Anazodo assured the family and Nnewi people that he will determine the cause of the incident and serve adequate justice.

He assured: “Under my watch, no individual or group will hide under any umbrella to commit any form of crime in Nnewi.

“I pledge that I will handle the situation with every sense of commitment and make the culprit face the full wrath of the law.”

He, therefore, urged Ndi Nnewi to remain calm as ‘he pursues this case decisively’.

“I remain committed to the welfare and safety of Ndi Nnewi both indigenous and residents living amongst us especially in terms of security of life and properties of us all,” he added.

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