The Enugu State Police Command has launched a manhunt for a bus driver and his conductor over assault and attempted murder of police officers as well as snatching of a police rifle.
This is contained in a statement by the Command’s Spokesman, SP Daniel Ndukwe, on Sunday in Enugu.
According to Ndukwe, the driver and conductor of a Mitsubishi L300 commercial bus were alleged to have carried out the act last week Thursday during an attempt to flag down the driver over assault on a traffic control officer.
“The incident occurred at about 1; 20p.m., on July 9, at All Saints Roundabout, along Abakaliki Road, Enugu.
“Acting on information received from the command’s control room that the driver and conductor had assaulted a traffic police officer on duty, operatives of the Distress Response Squad (DRS) intercepted and flagged down the vehicle.
“However, rather than submitting to arrest, the driver deceptively slowed down before suddenly accelerating in an attempt to escape.
“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.” He said.
Ndukwe said that the state’s Commissioner of Police, Mr Mamman Giwa, had ordered a comprehensive investigation and intensified efforts to arrest and prosecute the fleeing suspects.
The commissioner also advised the driver and conductor to voluntarily present themselves to the police for proper investigation, because every lawful measure is being deployed to apprehend them.
Giwa further urged the public to disregard misleading narratives surrounding the incident and cautioned against assaulting or obstructing police officers in the lawful discharge of their duties.
He emphasised that such acts were serious criminal offences that would be dealt with decisively in accordance with the law.