The Abia State Police Command has announced the arrest of 13 suspects in connection with alleged armed robbery, unlawful possession of firearms, vandalism of government property, and other criminal offences across the state.

The Command disclosed that operatives of its 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, over alleged involvement in vandalism.

The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Maureen Chinaka, made this known in a statement issued on Wednesday.

According to her, officers recovered a vandalised large pipeline concealed beneath sawdust inside a white Toyota Hiace bus allegedly linked to the suspect. She added that efforts are ongoing to apprehend other suspects who fled the scene.

Chinaka also disclosed that operatives of the VCRU in Aba North arrested a suspect identified as Williams Ifeanyi of Market Road, Aba, on August 2, 2026, for allegedly robbing a victim at gunpoint along Market Road by Rail.

She said the suspect allegedly accosted the victim and dispossessed him of his bag and other personal belongings. A pistol and live cartridges were recovered during the operation.

In a separate operation, operatives of the Uratta Divisional Police Station arrested two suspects, John Chigozie and David Anyaka, over their alleged involvement in an armed robbery incident at a hotel in Aba on August 1, 2026.

The police said a pistol and live ammunition were recovered from the suspects during the arrest.

The Command further disclosed that operatives of the Violent Crime Response Unit along Bende Road, acting on credible intelligence, raided a meeting of a suspected violent criminal group believed to be cultists at Umuezeagwu in Umuahia North Local Government Area.

According to the PPRO, several suspects were arrested during the operation, while a cache of items was recovered, including 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 added that investigations into the various cases are ongoing.