The Enugu State Police Command has launched a manhunt for the driver and conductor of a Mitsubishi L300 commercial bus that knocked down a policeman and dragged away his AK-47 rifle.
The command disclosed this in a Sunday statement signed by its Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Daniel Ndukwe.
According to the statement, the incident occurred at about 1:20 p.m. on July 9 at All Saints Roundabout, along Abakaliki Road, Enugu.
The statement reads, “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 Command’s Distress Response Squad (DRS) intercepted and flagged down the vehicle.
“However, instead of 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 had become 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.”
The police said the suspects were being sought for the offences of conspiracy, serious assault on police officers, dangerous driving, attempted murder, and the snatching of a police rifle.
for the offences of conspiracy, serious assault on police officers, dangerous driving, attempted murder, and the snatching of a Police rifle.
The Enugu State Commissioner of Police, CP Mamman Bitrus Giwa, has ordered a comprehensive investigation and intensified efforts to arrest and prosecute the fleeing suspects.
He warned the driver and conductor to voluntarily present themselves to the police for proper investigation, as 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, stressing that such acts are serious criminal offences that will be dealt with decisively in accordance with the law.
(The Sun)