The Commissioner of Police in Enugu State, Mamman Bitrus Giwa, has ordered a thorough investigation into an alleged shooting by unidentified armed hoodlums in front of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) Secretariat in Enugu, an incident which left one man injured and damaged five parked vehicles.
The shooting reportedly occurred at about 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, October 10, 2026, according to a statement issued on Sunday by the Police Public Relations Officer of the Enugu State Command, SP Daniel Ndukwe.
Police said a man who was repairing a vehicle parked along the road sustained a suspected gunshot injury during the incident, while the windscreens of five vehicles parked in the vicinity were damaged.
Ndukwe said police operatives responded to a distress call, moved to the scene and restored normalcy before taking the injured man to hospital.
“Upon receiving a distress report, police operatives promptly moved to the scene, restored normalcy and rushed the injured victim to a hospital, where he is receiving treatment and is reported to be in stable condition,” the police spokesman said.
The police account therefore indicates that the victim survived the shooting and was in stable condition, contrary to earlier unverified reports suggesting that someone had been killed.
Following the incident, Giwa directed the State Criminal Investigation Department to take over the investigation, identify those behind the shooting and ensure their apprehension.
“The commissioner has directed the State Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to identify and apprehend the perpetrators,” Ndukwe said.
No suspect had been identified in the police account at the time of the statement, while the circumstances and motive for the shooting remained under investigation.
The shooting came amid another confrontation involving NDC supporters and security operatives earlier the same day at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu.
According to the police, at about 11:30 a.m., joint police and military personnel dispersed suspected NDC members who had gathered at the entrance to the airport while attempting to receive the party’s governorship candidate.
Police said preliminary findings showed that airport authorities had restricted the party members from entering the airport in large numbers.
Ndukwe said a disagreement subsequently arose among some of those gathered and developed into a fight, prompting the intervention of the joint security team.
“Preliminary findings indicate that airport authorities restricted the party members from entering the airport in large numbers to receive their governorship candidate.
“A misunderstanding reportedly arose among the party members and escalated into a fight, prompting the intervention of the joint security operatives,” the police said.
The two incidents came against the backdrop of earlier political tensions involving opposition gatherings in Enugu State.
In September, the police also opened investigations after armed hoodlums allegedly disrupted an NDC ward meeting at Ndiuno-Obuoffia and a PDP gathering in Agbani, both in Nkanu West Local Government Area. The police said two persons were injured in the NDC incident, while canopies and chairs prepared for the PDP event were destroyed.
There has also been controversy over the arrest of Ani Samuel Chidi, a 45-year-old NDC member whose detention had been linked by the party and rights advocates to his recording of an earlier attack on an NDC gathering.
The police, however, rejected that account, saying Chidi was not arrested for recording the September incident but was instead arraigned over allegations relating to cyberbullying and threats to life. He was charged before an Enugu magistrates’ court under provisions of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc.) Act, 2015, as amended in 2024.
Against the latest developments, the Commissioner of Police reiterated his warning to political parties and their supporters to avoid violence and conduct their activities in accordance with the law and existing peace accords.
Giwa also reaffirmed the command’s commitment to maintaining neutrality and providing what the police described as a level playing field for all political parties.
The command further urged political parties to notify the police ahead of planned political activities to enable adequate security arrangements to be made.
.. “Identify And Apprehend The Perpetrators” — Enugu CP Orders CID Probe As Shooting At NDC Secretariat Injures Man, Damages Five Vehicles … NewsNGR.
