The Abia State Police Command has arrested 13 male suspects between the ages of 20 and 27 in connection with alleged armed robbery, vandalism of government property, cult-related activities, and unlawful possession of firearms.

The Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Maureen Chinaka, disclosed this in a statement issued on Wednesday, saying the arrests were made during a series of intelligence-led operations carried out across the state.

According to her, exhibits recovered from the suspects include a locally made pistol, a locally made single-barrel gun, a Beretta pistol, a pump-action gun, and eight live cartridges.

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

Chinaka said the Command has continued to record significant successes through its kinetic and non-kinetic crime-fighting strategies, driven by actionable intelligence.

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

According to the police, the suspect was found in possession of a vandalised large galvanised pipeline concealed beneath sawdust inside a white Toyota Hiace bus. She added that efforts are ongoing to apprehend other suspects who escaped.

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.

The police said the suspect allegedly attacked the victim and made away with a bag and other personal belongings. A pistol and live cartridges were recovered from him during the arrest.

Chinaka further disclosed that officers of the Uratta Divisional Police Station, acting on credible 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.

A pistol and live ammunition were recovered from the suspects, while investigations into the case are ongoing.

The police spokesperson also revealed that operatives of the Violent Crime Response Unit, Bende Road, raided a meeting of a suspected violent criminal group believed to be cultists at Umuezeagwu in Umuahia North Local Government Area on August 4, 2026.

Several suspects were apprehended during the operation, and officers recovered 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.

She noted that investigations into the matter are still in progress.

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

It also appealed to residents to continue supporting security efforts by providing timely and credible information on criminal activities to the nearest police station.