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, dangerous driving and the snatching of an AK-47 rifle during a dramatic escape in Enugu.

The Police Public Relations Officer, SP Daniel Ndukwe, disclosed this in a statement issued on Sunday, July 12, 2026, saying the incident occurred at about 1:20 p.m. on July 9 at the All Saints Roundabout along Abakaliki Road, Enugu.

According to the statement, the suspects were initially flagged by operatives of the Command’s Distress Response Squad (DRS) after the Control Room received a report that they had assaulted a traffic police officer on duty.

Ndukwe explained that rather than submit to arrest, the driver pretended to comply before suddenly accelerating in an attempt to flee.

“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,” he stated.

The police spokesperson said the fleeing vehicle knocked down one of the DRS operatives, while the officer’s AK-47 rifle became entangled with the bus and was dragged away during the 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,” Ndukwe added.

He said that during a hot pursuit, the suspects eventually threw the rifle out of the moving vehicle at IMT Bus Stop along Abakaliki Road before speeding off.

“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.

Following the incident, the Commissioner of Police, CP Mamman Bitrus Giwa, ordered a full-scale investigation and directed operatives to intensify efforts to apprehend and prosecute the fleeing suspects.

According to Ndukwe, the police commissioner also urged the driver and conductor to surrender themselves to the police, warning that every lawful measure was being deployed to ensure their arrest.

“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,” the statement read.

The commissioner also urged members of the public to ignore what he described as misleading accounts of the incident and warned against obstructing or attacking police officers performing their lawful duties.

“CP 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,” Ndukwe stated.

Troops of Operation Hadin Kai have neutralised an Islamic State West Africa Province cameraman and recovered video materials indicating the presence of three foreign facilitators, including a Palestinian Arab identified as a trainer and a Moroccan Arab serving as a medical doctor for the terrorist group in Borno State.

The Acting Military Information Officer, Joint Task Force North East, Operation Hadin Kai, Capt. Muhammed Goni, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday.

According to him, the operational success was recorded on Saturday following a failed infiltration attempt by members of ISWAP terrorists into Cross Kauwa, Kukawa Local Government Area of Borno State.

Goni said the terrorists attempted to exploit the cover of darkness to breach the troops’ position and loot cholera medical supplies.

The statement read, “Troops of 19 Brigade, Sector 3, Joint Task Force North East, Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK), have decisively foiled an attempted infiltration by ISWAP terrorists into Cross Kauwa, Kukawa Local Government Area of Borno State, inflicting heavy casualties on the attackers and forcing them to retreat in disarray.

“The successful defence of the location further demonstrates the vigilance, combat readiness and operational effectiveness of troops who continue to deny terrorist elements freedom of action across the North East Theatre.”

The failed attack, he said, occurred at about 10:20 p.m. on July 11, 2026, when the terrorists attempted to exploit the cover of darkness to breach the troops’ position.

“Alert troops swiftly detected the hostile movement and responded with coordinated and overwhelming firepower, compelling the terrorists to abandon their mission of looting cholera medical supplies and withdraw in confusion after suffering severe losses,” Goni said.

According to him, the attempted looting further lends credence to recent intelligence reports of a cholera outbreak within terrorist enclaves, as well as reports of the execution of some affected members by the group.

“The neutralisation of a terrorist cameraman during the failed assault led to the recovery of a Sony camcorder containing highly sensitive recordings of terrorist activities, including operational footage and propaganda materials.

“Preliminary forensic analysis of the last available video recorded prior to the attack indicates that the operation was coordinated by four senior ISWAP commanders (Qai’ds), alongside three foreign terrorist facilitators. They include a Palestinian Arab identified as Abu Ishaq, assessed to be ISWAP’s overall trainer; a Moroccan Arab identified as Abu Thaiba, a medical doctor serving within the terrorist network; and another Arab operative whose identity is yet to be established,” he added.

He said the presence and active involvement of the foreign nationals further reinforced intelligence assessments that ISWAP continued to benefit from external support, specialist expertise and transnational terrorist linkages.

“Following the successful engagement, troops immediately dominated the area and conducted exploitation operations to ascertain the full extent of the terrorists’ losses,” he added.

The Army spokesman said troops recovered the Sony camcorder, several rounds of PKT and 7.62mm Special ammunition, terrorist uniforms

The Anambra State Government has intensified its campaign against quackery in the health sector with the arrest of a 47-year-old woman, Mrs. Onyinyechi Esther Charles, over allegations of carrying out surgical procedures without the required medical and surgical qualifications.

Mrs. Charles, an indigene of Abia State who is married to a man from Nteje, allegedly operated a traditional birth attendant (TBA) facility in Umueri, Anambra East Local Government Area, where she is accused of performing caesarean sections, conducting normal vaginal deliveries and carrying out other surgical procedures.

The facility has also been linked to reported cases of medical complications and fatalities.

According to the Anambra State Ministry of Health, the arrest followed investigations initiated by the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Afam Obidike, as part of the state’s ongoing efforts to eliminate illegal medical practice and protect the lives of residents.

The ministry stated that during interrogation, the suspect allegedly admitted to performing caesarean sections, normal deliveries and other surgical procedures without the required qualifications or authorisation.

It further revealed that she was previously known as Eze Nwanyi before later becoming a church minister and presenting herself as a surgeon.

During an inspection of the facility on Sunday, July 12, the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Afam Obidike, accompanied by the Mayor of Anambra East Local Government Area, Hon. Ifeanyi Chinweze, and security personnel, reportedly recovered surgical instruments and other medical equipment believed to have been used in the alleged unauthorised procedures.

Mrs Charles

Hospital beds where patients were reportedly treated were also found within the premises, while officials further discovered what appeared to be a shrine and an altar inside the facility.

The state government said the premises have been confiscated pending the outcome of legal proceedings, while the suspect will be arraigned before a competent court.