The police command in Enugu has launched a manhunt for a bus driver and his conductor for the attempted murder of officers and the snatching of a rifle.

A statement by the command’s Spokesman, Daniel Ndukwe, on Sunday announced the manhunt for the driver and conductor of a Mitsubishi L300 commercial bus.

”The incident occurred at about 1:20 p.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 the IMT Bus Stop along the same road before speeding off. The rifle was immediately recovered intact, with its ammunition,” Mr Ndukwe stated.

The officer mentioned that police commissioner Mamman Giwa 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.

(NAN)