Traders in the famous Onitsha market, Anambra State, have cried out to the new Commissioner of Police, calling for help. They say a group of policemen, claiming to be from the Area Command, have been raiding their shops late at night. They break in after everyone has gone home and seize goods. The traders are asking the new police boss to act fast before these officers tarnish his reputation.

The traders allege that these raids happen around 10 p.m. Using heavy tools, the officers allegedly force open shops and take everything inside. They transport it back to their station. Their spokesman, Nnanunyelugo Elias, said this has become a habit. The officers then demand huge sums of money before they’ll release the stolen items.

One such incident, according to the traders, occurred on August 9, 2026. Five officers — identified as Inspector Anthony, Inspector Elijah, Sergeant Daniel, Sergeant Ebo, and Assistant Superintendent of Police Sebastine — allegedly stormed a medicine store in the building materials section. They broke into the shop and made off with drugs estimated to be worth over N50 million. They loaded them into a police pick-up van and took them to the Area Command, under an Assistant Commissioner of Police.

What’s more shocking, the traders claim, is that the raid was carried out without any official paperwork. There was no search warrant and no court order. The owner of the medicine store reportedly rushed to the Area Command the next morning. He was then told his goods had been taken to a government ministry that handles seized items. He wasn’t given the specific ministry, who to speak with there, or even told what offence he had supposedly committed.

Things took a more worrying turn when, according to sources, one policeman at the station quietly advised the store owner that his drugs might have already been sold. The policeman allegedly urged him to leave the station quickly to avoid being detained. Left with a staggering N50 million loss and no clear path for recovery, the owner reportedly left the station to nurse his wounds.

The traders feel they have no one to turn to and are afraid to speak out because they believe they lack support. They are urging the new Commissioner of Police to quickly identify the officers involved. They claim these officers are known figures in the market. They insist these officers must be removed to ensure they don't disrupt the new CP's efforts to improve the police force in the state.

According to the traders' spokesman, two of the officers allegedly involved in the recent raids were also part of a shooting incident at the Onitsha Head Bridge. The traders are calling for stern action, with no exceptions, including for their superiors. They pointed out that Onitsha is a vital commercial hub in the east. If such officers are allowed to continue operating unchecked, they will bring further disrepute to the Nigerian Police Force.

Efforts to reach the Police Public Relations Officer in Anambra State for comment were unsuccessful, as calls to his mobile phone didn’t go through.

Onitsha, as Nigeria's commercial capital in the Southeast, relies heavily on smooth trade. Incidents like these, if true, not only cripple individual businesses but also erode the confidence traders have in law enforcement. This could potentially impact the economic activity that drives the region.