Abia Police Arrest 17 Suspected Cultists, Recover Arms and Other Exhibits.
The Abia State Police Command has arrested 17 suspected cultists in Aba as part of intensified efforts to curb cult-related violence and criminal activities across the state.
The suspects, all males aged between 18 and 28 years, were apprehended by operatives of the Command’s Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU) following intelligence-led operations targeting cult groups linked to recent violent attacks in Aba.
According to a statement issued by the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Maureen Chioma Chinaka, the arrests were connected to a series of cult-related incidents, including the killing of a young man at No. 29 Brass Road, Aba, on May 13, 2026, and the shooting of another victim at Ehere near Opobo Junction on May 24, 2026.
The police disclosed that the suspects were arrested at various meeting points and while allegedly preparing to carry out further criminal activities. Recovered from them were five short guns, three live rounds of ammunition, thirteen mobile phones of different makes, two cutlasses, one axe and a black beret.
The Command stated that investigations into the matter have been concluded and that the suspects are being charged to court.
Speaking on the development, the Commissioner of Police in Abia State, CP Danladi Isa, reaffirmed the Command’s commitment to safeguarding lives and property, stressing that there would be no hiding place for cultists and other criminals operating in the state.
He assured residents that the police would continue to intensify efforts aimed at preventing and detecting crime while maintaining law and order across Abia.
The Commissioner further noted that the Command, through its Police Campaign Against Cultism and Other Vices (POCACOV) unit, would sustain awareness campaigns in schools and communities to discourage youths from engaging in cultism and other social vices.
The police also urged members of the public to support security agencies by providing timely and credible information on suspicious persons and activities within their communities.
The statement emphasized that collaboration between residents and law enforcement remains crucial to sustaining peace and security across the state.
About The Author
