By Izunna Okafor, Awka
Swift response from the Anambra State Police Command has once again paid off, as operatives recovered a shuttle bus and cash stolen by a group of armed hoodlums who disguised themselves as passengers in the State.
According to reports, the criminals — a five-man gang — pretended to be genuine passengers and boarded a commercial shuttle bus operated by the Transport Company of Anambra State (TRACAS), only to later rob the unsuspecting driver of both his vehicle and cash.
Confirming this in a statement made available to newsmen on Sunday, the State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, disclosed that the incident occurred on Friday, May 17, 2025, at Nkwelle in Oyi Local Government Area of the State, leaving the driver distraught after the gang forcefully dispossessed him of the bus, with registration number AGU 651 ZL, and the sum of twenty thousand naira (₦20,000).
According to him, immediately the matter was reported through a distress call to the Command Control Room, the police operatives attached to Obosi Divisional Headquarters swung into action, acting on the information provided and mobilizing officers to strategic points.
He said the police rapid response and coordination forced the fleeing criminals to abandon the stolen bus at Slaughter Junction, Nkwelle, and take to their heels through a nearby bush.
The Police Spokesman added that the recovered shuttle bus had since been secured by the Police, while manhunt for the fleeing suspects has commenced. He further noted that security patrols have been intensified in the area, as efforts are underway to track down and apprehend the perpetrators.
Meanwhile, the State Commissioner of Police, CP Ikioye Orutugu, has reassured residents of the Command’s commitment to fighting crime and protecting lives and property in all parts of the State.
The Police Chief further urged drivers and transport operators to be more vigilant and report suspicious movements promptly to the Police, to forestall such incidents in the future.
