The Police Command in Enugu State has averted a breakdown of law and order after a vehicle crushed a man to death in Trans Ekulu, a statement said.
The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Ebere Amaraizu, said in a statement on Tuesday that the intervention of policemen prevented a mob action against the commercial bus driver.
Amaraizu said that the incident occurred around 4pm on July 3 along Nike Lake Road axis of Trans Ekulu by the White House Bus stop.
He said that police operatives from the Trans Ekulu Division quickly responded when scores of irate mob were about unleashing their anger on the vehicle, its driver and passengers.
The police spokesman said that one Toyota Hiace bus with registration number AFK 249 XA conveying passengers and heading to Enugu, allegedly lost control and crushed a pedestrian, later identified as Chukwu, an artisan, within the community.
Amaraizu said: “This, however, angered sympathizers, who mobilized in their numbers to set the vehicle ablaze in protest.
“It took the timely intervention of the Police from the Trans Ekulu Division to restore sanity and save the situation, considering the number of petrol stations around the vicinity.”
The PPRO said that the matter was currently under investigation and that the driver was in police custody.