The Enugu State Police Command has launched a manhunt for the driver and conductor of a Mitsubishi L300 commercial bus over their alleged involvement in the assault of police officers, attempted murder, dangerous driving, and the temporary snatching of a police rifle.
The Command disclosed this in a press statement issued on Sunday by the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Daniel Ndukwe.
According to the statement, the incident occurred at about 1:20 p.m. on July 9, 2026, at All Saints Roundabout along Abakaliki Road, Enugu.
The police explained that operatives of the Command’s Distress Response Squad (DRS) responded after receiving information from the Control Room that the driver and conductor had assaulted a traffic police officer on duty.
The suspects were intercepted and flagged down by the DRS operatives, but instead of submitting to arrest, the driver allegedly slowed down momentarily before suddenly accelerating in a bid to escape.
In the process, one of the operatives was knocked down, while the officer’s AK-47 rifle became entangled with the moving vehicle and was dragged away.
The statement added that during the ensuing chase, the suspects threw the rifle out of the vehicle at IMT Bus Stop along Abakaliki Road before fleeing the scene. The rifle was immediately recovered intact along with its ammunition.
Reacting to the incident, the Commissioner of Police in Enugu State, CP Mamman Bitrus Giwa, ordered a comprehensive investigation and directed operatives to intensify efforts to track down and arrest the fleeing suspects for prosecution.
The Police Commissioner also urged the driver and conductor to voluntarily surrender themselves for investigation, warning that every lawful measure would be employed to ensure their arrest.
CP Giwa further appealed to members of the public to disregard what he described as misleading narratives surrounding the incident.
He cautioned against assaulting or obstructing police officers in the lawful discharge of their duties, stressing that such actions constitute serious criminal offences and would be dealt with decisively in accordance with the law.
