The Enugu State Police Command has launched an intensified manhunt for armed assailants following a deadly attack on a Police Distress Response Squad (DRS) team along Agbani Road, Enugu, in a development that has further strengthened the Command’s resolve to dismantle violent criminal networks operating in the state.
The attack occurred on the night of January 15, 2026, when suspected IPOB/ESN-linked criminal elements suddenly opened fire on the police team while they were on routine duty. The officers responded with professionalism and courage, engaging the attackers in a fierce exchange that forced the assailants to retreat in disarray, many believed to have fled with gunshot injuries.
Although the operatives successfully repelled the attack, the incident came at a painful cost. The team’s operational vehicle was set ablaze during the encounter, and two police officers sustained critical gunshot injuries. They were immediately rushed to a nearby hospital for urgent medical attention but were later confirmed dead by medical personnel. Their sacrifice has been described within security circles as a testament to the bravery of officers who daily put their lives on the line to protect citizens.
In swift response, the Commissioner of Police, Enugu State Command, CP Mamman Bitrus Giwa, psc, ordered tactical and intelligence units to deploy all available resources to track down the fleeing suspects. Acting on actionable intelligence, operatives have already recorded a major breakthrough with the recovery of a Lexus 330 Jeep earlier snatched from a civilian and used by the attackers during the operation. The recovered vehicle bears multiple bullet holes, clear evidence of the intense gun battle and the pressure mounted on the criminals as they escaped.
CP Giwa has charged officers involved in the operation to sustain the momentum, deepen intelligence-led policing, and ensure that every individual connected to the attack is arrested and brought to justice. He emphasized that the Command will not be deterred by acts of violence and remains unwavering in its duty to safeguard lives and property across Enugu State.
The Commissioner also called on residents to support the ongoing operation by volunteering credible and timely information that could aid in the arrest of the suspects. He assured members of the public that all information will be treated with the highest level of confidentiality and that the Command is fully committed to restoring and maintaining peace.
As investigations and field operations continue, the Enugu State Police Command has reaffirmed its determination to ensure that the perpetrators of this attack do not evade justice, sending a strong message that criminal violence has no place in the state and will be met with decisive and sustained action.
