The Enugu State Police Command has launched a manhunt for the driver and conductor of a Mitsubishi L300 commercial bus over the alleged assault of police officers, attempted murder and the temporary snatching of a police rifle.

In a statement issued on Sunday, the command’s spokesperson, SP Daniel Ndukwe, said the suspects are wanted for conspiracy, serious assault, dangerous driving, attempted murder and snatching of a police rifle.

According to the police, the incident occurred at about 1:20 p.m. on July 9 at All Saints Roundabout along Abakaliki Road in Enugu. Operatives of the Distress Response Squad responded after receiving reports from the command’s control room that the bus driver and conductor had assaulted a traffic police officer on duty.

Ndukwe said the operatives intercepted the commercial bus and signalled the driver to stop. However, he alleged that the driver initially slowed down before suddenly accelerating in an attempt to evade arrest.

The police said the vehicle knocked down one of the operatives during the escape, while the officer’s AK-47 rifle became entangled with the bus and was dragged away. During a subsequent chase, the suspects allegedly threw the rifle out of the vehicle near IMT Bus Stop before fleeing. The weapon was later recovered intact with its ammunition.

Commissioner of Police Mamman Giwa has ordered a full investigation into the incident and directed officers to intensify efforts to arrest and prosecute the suspects.

Giwa also urged the driver and conductor to surrender voluntarily, warning that the command would deploy all lawful means to apprehend them. He further advised the public to disregard what he described as misleading accounts of the incident and cautioned against assaulting or obstructing police officers in the lawful discharge of their duties, stressing that such offences would be prosecuted in accordance with the law.