From Sylvia Udegbunam, Enugu

Operatives of the Enugu State Police Command attached to the New Haven Division and the Distress Response Squad (DRS), on 6th December 2025 at about 6 a.m., swiftly responded to a distress call and arrested one Orlu Chukwuemeka (male, 25).

Investigations revealed that the suspect and his accomplice, who is currently at large, disguised as commercial operators of an unregistered white mini bus and abducted their female passenger in a one-chance-styled operation at Fourth Dimension, along Chime Avenue, Enugu.

During the incident, the suspects stabbed the victim, pushed her out of the moving vehicle along the same Chime Avenue, and escaped, after robbing her of an Android phone and ATM card.

Police operatives immediately trailed and intercepted them within Independence Layout, Enugu, leading to the arrest of Orlu, while the other suspect fled.

Ina press statement sent by the Police public relations officer Enugu State Command, Daniel Ndukwe stated that the victim was promptly taken to the hospital for medical attention, where she regained stability and was able to positively identify the arrested suspect as part of the criminal gang.

The suspect has since been arraigned in court and remanded in custody, while intensive efforts are ongoing to track down the fleeing accomplice and ensure every person involved is brought to justice.

The Commissioner of Police, Mamman Bitrus Giwa, appreciates the timely support from public-spirited citizens that aided the swift arrest. He reiterates the Command’s unwavering resolve to combating violent crimes across Enugu State this festive season and beyond, urging residents to continue providing credible and timely security information.

From Sylvia Udegbunam Enugu

The Enugu State Government has announced plans to restrict the operation of tricycles (Keke), yellow buses, and minibuses from five major highways across Enugu city, paving the way for the smooth implementation of the state’s Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system.

This was made known by the Commissioner for Transport, Dr.

Obi Ozor, during a consultative meeting with transport unions and stakeholders at the ministry’s headquarters in Enugu on Monday.

Dr. Ozor listed the affected traffic corridors as Okpara Avenue–Abakaliki Road–New Haven Junction–Naira Triangle–Emene Airport; Ogui Road–Chime Avenue–Naira Triangle; and New Haven Junction–Bisala Road–Rangers Avenue–WAEC–Nkpokiti–Zik’s Avenue.

Others are Ogui Road–Presidential Road–WAEC–Nkpokiti and the entire Agbani Road stretch.

According to the commissioner, these will become dedicated BRT routes in line with Governor Peter Mbah’s vision to reposition Enugu as a modern, multimodal and globally competitive city. He however stressed that taxis will also be allowed to ply the BRT routes.

He noted that tricycles were never designed for high-speed highways, stressing that their presence on such routes disrupts traffic flow and puts lives at risk.

“We must be open to change. This reform is not about taking anyone’s job. It is about reorganizing the system so that BRT buses operate on the primary roads, yellow buses serve the secondary routes, and tricycles provide last-mile connectivity. Everyone has a place in the value chain,” he stated.

Dr. Ozor observed that the government has procured 200 CNG-powered BRT buses, alongside 4,000 electric taxis to be assembled locally at ANAMMCO in Enugu, with the first 1,000 taxis ready within three months.

He said the Mbah administration has also built 84 new bus shelters across the city, forming the backbone of a modern transit network designed around safety, comfort, and affordability.

He stated that Enugu, with an estimated two million daily commuters, requires at least 8,000 buses to meet mobility demands. The new BRT buses, he added, are equipped with padded seats, functional air-conditioning, WiFi, and strict safety features.

“Passengers do not stand in these buses, and every vehicle is tracked and monitored from our central command and control centre. The BRT fare now comes with a 47 percent discount to cushion transportation costs for citizens,” he said.

Dr. Ozor also announced some key resolutions reached at the meeting. He said that transport unions interested in participating in BRT bus or terminal operations are to submit proposals, including financial models, for government evaluation.

He further explained that the Ije Card, the state’s electronic fare payment system designed to make commuting faster, cashless, and more convenient, will be decentralized so that sales points reach five million residents within 90 days.

He added that the government regrets delays in allocating loading bays at the new transport terminals, noting that proposals are under review and would be finalized soon.

He encouraged the transport unions to access financial facilities to procure their own buses or to participate in the BRT operations space.

“There are enormous investment opportunities as Enugu expands its connectivity to other cities,” he said.

Stakeholders across the transport unions expressed their support for the state’s transport transformation agenda, saying they recognized the long-term benefits for commuters, operators, and the economy of the state.

The Enugu State Chairman of the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN), Comrade Chidiebere Aniagu, stated that the union was not opposed to the reforms and shares the government’s vision for a safer and more efficient transportation ecosystem. He appealed to the government to address the concerns of their members.

His counterpart in the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Engr. Augustine Agu, praised the governor’s achievements, noting: “Governor Mbah has done in two years what others could not do in eight years. His private-sector discipline is evident. We fully support him.” He however urged the government to consider their interest in operating the BRT buses and transport terminals, insisting that they have all it takes to perform creditably.

Comrade Kingsley Edeh, speaking for the Amalgamated Tricycle Riders Association in Enugu State, noted that there are 18,000 Keke riders in the state, and appealed for taxis to be made available as alternatives for riders who may wish to transition.

He welcomed the government’s commitment that no one will be displaced but rather reorganized into a more efficient system.

The Commissioner inaugurated a joint review committee comprising ministry officials and transport union representatives to finalize operational modalities ahead of the full rollout of the BRT buses on the dedicated routes, with the launch date to be announced soon.

A final-year student of Ambrose Alli University (AAU), Ekpoma, Edo, has died in a motorcade accident while celebrating the completion of his final examinations.

He was reportedly part of a convoy of fresh graduates who took to the highway on Monday shortly after their signing-out activities.

Witnesses said the group drove recklessly and failed to observe basic safety rules during the celebrations.

The tragedy occurred when the deceased attempted to overtake a moving truck but collided with a stationary vehicle parked along the road.

Confirming the incident on Tuesday, the Sector Commander, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Edo Command, Cyril Mathew, said one person died while five others sustained varying degrees of injuries.

“The students, after writing their last paper, took to the road in a convoy.

In the process, one of them overtook another vehicle and rammed into a stationary truck,” he said.

Mathew urged students to prioritise safety and avoid dangerous post-examination celebrations.

He advised them to “celebrate within campus areas” and reminded them that “there is life after graduation.”