The Enugu State Commissioner of Police, CP Mamman Bitrus Giwa, has ordered an intensified manhunt for suspected IPOB/ESN-linked criminal elements following a deadly attack on a police patrol team along Agbani Road, Enugu, which claimed the lives of two officers.
The attack occurred on the night of January 15, 2026, when armed assailants ambushed a team of the Police Distress Response Squad (DRS) during a routine operation. According to the police, the gunmen opened fire on the officers without provocation, prompting an immediate response from the patrol team.
“The operatives responded promptly, forcing the assailants to flee with varying degrees of gunshot injuries,” CP Giwa said in a statement released by the Command.
During the exchange of gunfire, the police operational vehicle was set ablaze, while two officers sustained severe gunshot injuries. The injured officers were rushed to a hospital for urgent medical attention but were later confirmed dead by medical personnel.
Describing the incident as a direct attack on law enforcement, CP Giwa directed both tactical and intelligence units of the Command to deploy all available resources to track down the fleeing suspects.
“I have charged our operatives to leverage actionable intelligence and sustain the established trail to ensure that the assailants are arrested and brought to justice,” the Commissioner stated.
In a significant development, the police confirmed the recovery of a Lexus 330 Jeep that was earlier snatched from its owner by the attackers and used during the assault. The vehicle, according to the Command, bears multiple bullet holes from the gunfight.
CP Giwa also appealed to members of the public to support the investigation by volunteering credible information that could aid the arrest of the suspects.
“We remain resolute and committed to ensuring that these subversive and violent criminal elements do not evade justice,” he assured.
The statement was signed by the Police Public Relations Officer of the Command, SP Daniel Ndukwe, who reiterated the Command’s determination to restore calm and bring the perpetrators to account.
The Enugu State Police Command said investigations and manhunt operations are ongoing.
