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, conspiracy, and the snatching of a police rifle.
According to a statement issued on Sunday by the Police Public Relations Officer of the command, SP Daniel Ndukwe, the incident occurred at about 1:20 p.m. on July 9, 2026, at All Saints Roundabout along Abakaliki Road in Enugu.
Ndukwe said the Command’s Distress Response Squad (DRS) acted on information received from the Control Room that the driver and conductor had allegedly assaulted a traffic police officer on duty.
He explained that operatives intercepted and flagged down the commercial bus, but instead of submitting to arrest, the driver allegedly slowed down briefly before suddenly accelerating in a bid to escape.
According to the police spokesperson, the driver knocked down one of the operatives during the escape, while the officer’s AK-47 rifle became entangled with the vehicle and was dragged along.
Ndukwe said that during the ensuing pursuit, the suspects allegedly threw the rifle out of the vehicle at the IMT Bus Stop along Abakaliki Road before fleeing. He added that the weapon was immediately recovered intact, with its ammunition.
Reacting to the incident, the Commissioner of Police in Enugu State, Mamman Bitrus Giwa, ordered a comprehensive investigation and directed operatives to intensify efforts to apprehend and prosecute the fleeing suspects.
The police commissioner also urged the driver and conductor to surrender themselves for investigation, warning that all lawful measures were being deployed to ensure their arrest.
Giwa further called on members of the public to disregard what he described as misleading narratives surrounding the incident and cautioned against assaulting or obstructing police officers in the lawful discharge of their duties.
He stressed that such acts constitute serious criminal offences and would be dealt with in accordance with the law.#Securitynewsalert.com
