In a brazen assault on security personnel, armed men attacked policemen on duty in Enugu metropolis on Saturday night, resulting in fatalities and the destruction of a police vehicle.
Details of the Osondu Bus Stop Attack
The violent incident occurred at the Osondu bus stop on Zik Avenue in the Uwani area of Enugu. According to sources, the attack took place around 9 pm on Saturday, 27 December 2025, targeting officers conducting a routine stop-and-search operation.
Reports indicate that the assailants opened fire on the police patrol van stationed at the location. Two policemen lost their lives during the attack. The driver of the patrol vehicle was reportedly shot before the gunmen set the van on fire. A video of the burning vehicle circulated widely on social media platforms on Sunday.
Efforts to obtain an official statement from the Enugu State Police Command were unsuccessful. The Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Daniel Ndukwe, could not be reached as he did not answer calls or respond to a text message sent to his mobile line.
Controversy Surrounds Separate Death in Awgu
Meanwhile, a separate case in Enugu State has drawn attention due to sharply contrasting accounts from different parties. The death of 19-year-old Nnamdi Chidi in the Agunese Mmaku Community of Awgu Local Government Area has become a subject of controversy.
One narrative, presented by Onuseluogu Birinus Nevobasi, links Chidi's death to a violent reprisal. This account claims that officers from the Force Intelligence Department (FID) in Abuja, led by Jonathan Azubike Onuoha, had arrested a man named Emmanuel Okeke. It is alleged that Emmanuel's brother, Ifeanyi Okeke, threatened retaliation.
According to this version, a group attacked Onuoha's family home in the early hours of 6 May 2025, assaulting residents including Onuoha's elder sister. Chidi, the son of the assaulted woman, reportedly died from his injuries on 8 May 2025 at Beacon Hospital in Awgu. An autopsy allegedly established a prima facie case of murder, leading to an investigation by the Force Headquarters Homicide Unit.
Conflicting Police Narratives and Call for Probe
A counter-narrative, advanced by Vincent Okafor and supported by the IGP Monitoring Unit, disputes the murder claims entirely. Citing a video statement from Chidi's mother, Augustina Ogbaja Onuoha, this account maintains that no assault occurred and that Chidi died from natural causes related to a pre-existing medical condition.
The Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC) has called for an independent investigation into the teenager's death, highlighting the conflicting reports from family members, community sources, and different police units.
Nevobasi and others have alleged that the IGP Monitoring Unit attempted to interfere with the homicide probe by withdrawing the case file and filing counter-allegations of cyberbullying against those advocating for justice. The Monitoring Unit denies this, asserting its visits were to ensure investigative integrity and that the murder allegations were fabricated.
