The Abia State Police Command has arrested 13 male suspects, aged between 20 and 27, in separate operations targeting armed robbery, cultism, vandalism of government property, and unlawful possession of firearms across the state.

The Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Maureen Chinaka, disclosed this in a statement issued on Wednesday, noting that the operations were carried out using intelligence-driven strategies aimed at tackling crime.

She said exhibits recovered during the operations included a locally made pistol, a locally made single-barrel gun, two live cartridges, a Beretta pistol, and a pump-action gun.

Other items recovered were six additional live cartridges, a cutlass, an axe, substances suspected to be hard drugs, walkie-talkies, one face mask, two red berets, and one black beret.

According to Chinaka, the Command has continued to record successes through both kinetic and non-kinetic approaches to crime fighting by leveraging actionable intelligence.

She explained that operatives of the Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU) intercepted and arrested 27-year-old Uchenna Agbneiwu, a native of Nkume in Orlu Local Government Area of Imo State who resides in Ubakala, Umuahia.

The suspect was allegedly found in possession of a vandalised large galvanised pipeline concealed beneath sawdust inside a white Toyota Hiace bus. The police spokesperson added that efforts are ongoing to apprehend other suspects who fled the scene.

In another operation, operatives of the VCRU in Aba North arrested 27-year-old Williams Ifeanyi of Market Road, Aba, on Sunday for allegedly robbing a victim at gunpoint along Market Road by Rail.

According to the police, the suspect allegedly dispossessed the victim of a bag and other personal belongings. A pistol and live cartridges were recovered during the arrest.

Chinaka further disclosed that operatives of the Uratta Divisional Police Station, acting on actionable intelligence, arrested John Chigozie, 25, and David Anyaka, 26, over their alleged involvement in an armed robbery incident at a hotel in Aba on August 1, 2026.

She said a pistol and live ammunition were recovered from the suspects, adding that investigations are ongoing.

The Command also revealed that operatives of the VCRU on Bende Road, acting on credible intelligence, raided a meeting of a suspected violent criminal group at Umuezeagwu in Umuahia North on August 4, 2026.

The operation led to the arrest of the suspected cult members and the recovery of one pump-action gun, one Beretta pistol, live cartridges, a cutlass, an axe, substances suspected to be hard drugs, walkie-talkies, one face mask, two red berets, and one black beret.

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

The Command also urged residents to continue supporting security efforts by promptly reporting suspicious activities and security concerns to the nearest police station.