Thirteen arrested as law enforcement dismantles robbery and cult rings in Abia

A total of 13 male suspects, ranging in age from 20 to 27, have been apprehended by the Abia Police Command for their alleged involvement in armed robbery, vandalism of government property, and unlawful possession of firearms.

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The exhibits seized from the suspects include a locally made pistol, a locally made single-barrel gun, two live cartridges, a Beretta pistol, and a pump-action gun, as disclosed by the Police Public Relations Officer, Maureen Chinaka, in a statement issued on Wednesday.

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Additional items recovered from the suspects comprise six live cartridges, one cutlass, one axe, substances suspected to be hard drugs, walkie-talkies, one face mask, two red berets, and one black beret, according to Chinaka.

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The Abia Police Command has reportedly maintained its momentum in combating crime across the state, leveraging actionable intelligence to inform its kinetic and non-kinetic operational strategies, Chinaka noted.

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The command's Violent Crime Response Unit, VCRU, intercepted and apprehended Uchenna Agbneiwu, a 27-year-old native of Nkume in Orlu LGA of Imo State, who was found in possession of a vandalised large galvanised pipeline concealed with sawdust in a white Toyota Hiace bus.

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Efforts are currently underway to apprehend other suspects who are still at large, according to the PPRO, who added that the VCRU operatives had made the arrest at Ubakala, Umuahia, where Agbneiwu resides.

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On Sunday, operatives of the VCRU, Aba North, apprehended Williams Ifeanyi, a 27-year-old resident of Market Road, Aba, who had accosted and dispossessed a victim of his bag and personal belongings at gunpoint along Market Road by Rail.

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A pistol and live cartridges were recovered from Ifeanyi, the PPRO said, highlighting the successful operation by the VCRU operatives.

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Leveraging actionable intelligence, operatives of the Urratta Divisional Police Station arrested John Chigozie, 25, and David Anyaka, 26, who were involved in an armed robbery incident at a hotel in Aba on 01/08/2026, with a pistol and live ammunition recovered from them.

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An investigation into the incident is ongoing, the PPRO noted, adding that the command is working to bring all perpetrators to justice.

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On 04/08/2026, operatives of the Violent Crime Response Unit, Bende Road, apprehended members of a violent criminal group during their meeting at Umuezeagwu, Umuahia North, acting on credible intelligence.

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The suspects were found in possession of a pump-action gun, a Beretta pistol, live cartridges, one cutlass, one axe, substances suspected to be hard drugs, walkie-talkies, one face mask, two red berets, and one black beret, with an investigation into the matter currently underway.

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The Abia Police Command has reaffirmed its commitment to protecting lives and property, preventing and detecting crime, and maintaining law and order in the state.

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The command is encouraging residents to partner with the police in crime prevention efforts by providing timely information on security concerns to the nearest police station, the PPRO said.