By Joy Yesufu
The Enugu State Police Command has launched a manhunt for the driver and conductor of a commercial bus accused of assaulting police officers, snatching an AK-47 rifle, and knocking down an operative during a dramatic chase along Abakaliki Road.
The suspects, who fled after the incident, are wanted for conspiracy, serious assault, dangerous driving, attempted murder, and snatching of a police rifle, the command’s spokesperson, SP Daniel Ndukwe, said in a statement on Sunday.
The trouble began at about 1:20pm on July 9 when operatives of the Distress Response Squad received a report that the driver and conductor of a Mitsubishi L300 commercial bus had assaulted a traffic police officer on duty at All Saints Roundabout, Enugu.
The operatives intercepted and flagged down the vehicle, but the driver allegedly attempted to evade arrest.
“Rather than submitting to arrest, the driver deceptively slowed down before suddenly accelerating in an attempt to escape,” Ndukwe said.
“In the process, he knocked down one of the operatives and dragged away the officer’s AK-47 rifle, which was entangled with the vehicle.”
During the ensuing pursuit, the suspects threw the rifle out of the vehicle at IMT Bus Stop along the same road before speeding off. The rifle was immediately recovered intact with its ammunition, police said.
The Commissioner of Police of the State, Mamman Giwa, has further ordered a comprehensive investigation and intensified efforts to arrest and prosecute the fleeing suspects.
He also urged the driver and conductor to voluntarily surrender for questioning, stating that all lawful measures were being deployed to apprehend them.
The commissioner further advised members of the public to disregard what he described as misleading narratives surrounding the incident and warned against assaulting or obstructing police officers in the lawful discharge of their duties.
“Such acts are serious criminal offences and will be dealt with in accordance with the law,” Giwa said.
