The Abia State Police Command has arrested suspects linked to the October 17 attack on Uratta Divisional Police Headquarters, rescued 10 stolen children and recovered 15 firearms and 30 stolen vehicles in a series of operations across the state.
The Commissioner of Police, CP Afolabi Wilfred, disclosed this on Friday while presenting the command’s operational achievements covering September 11, 2026, to November 6, 2026.
Wilfred said the arrests followed intelligence-led operations conducted by police operatives in collaboration with other security agencies.
He explained that preliminary investigations revealed that one of the suspects arrested over the Uratta police station attack confessed to leading the gang responsible for the incident.
“Discreet investigation is ongoing to establish the full circumstances surrounding the incident, identify other accomplices and ensure that all those involved are brought to justice,” he said.
In a related development, operatives of the Anti-Kidnapping Unit, on October 25, raided a location in Ubakala, Umuahia South Local Government Area, in connection with an attempted murder investigation.
The operation led to the arrest of a suspect identified as Osita, from whom the police recovered two locally made guns, 16 live cartridges and four expended cartridges.
The police also arrested a 30-year-old suspected ammunition supplier, Chisholm Okechukwu, alleged to be an accomplice. The suspects have been charged to court after investigations.
On child trafficking, the commissioner disclosed that operatives of the Violent Crime Response Unit arrested two suspects, including 38-year-old Chinwe, on October 11 over alleged conspiracy and child stealing.
The police rescued two children, Chiamaka Chikeze, seven, and Goodluck Chikeze, nine months old, and reunited them with their parents. The suspects have also been charged to court.
Similarly, the command arrested a five-man vehicle theft syndicate on October 11, including Chimezie Moses, 43, and Kelechi Matthew Onoegu, 40.
A Toyota Corolla with registration number ROU 9338J was recovered during the operation.
The police commissioner further disclosed the arrest of two suspects, Vincent Chidera, 27, and Onwachukwu Ernest, 25, for alleged unlawful possession of a fabricated firearm and membership of an unlawful society.
He said the suspects were arrested on October 31 for allegedly threatening and dispossessing students of Abia State University, Uturu, of their mobile phones and other valuables using a locally fabricated firearm.
According to him, one of the suspects confessed to belonging to the Black Axe Confraternity, while investigations are ongoing to apprehend other members of the group.
In another operation, operatives of the Anti-Kidnapping Unit raided a criminal hideout at Imuizi on October 28, arresting a 38-year-old suspect, Iheanyi, from Osisioma Ngwa Local Government Area.
A locally fabricated double-barrelled shotgun was recovered from him, and he has been charged to court.
Giving an overview of the command’s activities, Wilfred said 211 cases involving various criminal offences, including road traffic accidents, were recorded during the period under review.
He said the cases resulted in the arrest of 109 suspects, comprising 89 males and 20 females.
The commissioner added that four cult-related cases were investigated, leading to the arrest of nine suspects, while 15 firearms of different categories were recovered.
He further disclosed that 60 rounds of ammunition, 30 stolen vehicles and substances suspected to be illicit drugs were recovered during the operations.
The police boss said the command also rescued 10 stolen children and dismantled several criminal networks operating across the state.
According to him, crime analysis during the period indicated a significant reduction in criminal activities, which he attributed to sustained intelligence gathering, proactive policing and targeted raids.
He said the command would continue to strengthen community partnerships, improve intelligence gathering and increase police visibility to address security challenges across Abia.
Wilfred urged residents to support the police by providing timely and credible information, stressing that the fight against crime required collective responsibility.
“The fight against crime remains a collective responsibility. Your partnership remains invaluable to our collective efforts towards sustaining peace and security in the state. Together we keep Abia safe,” he said.
