The Abia State Police Command has declared that there will be no safe haven for cultism and other criminal activities in the state following the arrest of 17 suspected cultists.

The Commissioner of Police, Danladi Isa, made this known in a statement issued on Wednesday through the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Maureen Chioma Chinaka.

According to the statement, all 17 suspects are males aged between 18 and 28 years and were apprehended during intelligence-led operations carried out by operatives of the Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU).

Items recovered from the suspects include five locally made guns, three live rounds of ammunition, 13 mobile phones of various brands, two cutlasses, an axe, and a black beret.

The police said the arrests followed recent incidents of cult-related violence in Aba, including an attack on May 13, 2026, along Brass Road, where a young man was shot and hacked to death by suspected cultists.

Another incident occurred on May 24, 2026, at Ehere near Opobo Junction, where a young man was reportedly shot by suspected cult members.

Acting on credible intelligence, police operatives tracked down the suspects at various meeting points and also intercepted some of them while they were allegedly on their way to carry out further criminal activities.

The command disclosed that investigations have been concluded and the suspects are set to be charged to court.

Reaffirming the command’s commitment to safeguarding lives and property, Commissioner Isa assured residents that security agencies would continue to intensify efforts against cult groups and other criminal elements.

He urged members of the public to support law enforcement by promptly reporting suspicious persons and activities to the nearest police station.

The commissioner also highlighted the ongoing awareness campaign being conducted through the Police Campaign Against Cultism and Other Vices (POCACOV), aimed at discouraging young people from joining cult groups and engaging in criminal behaviour.

Cult-related violence has remained a security challenge in parts of Abia State, particularly in Aba, where clashes between rival groups have occasionally led to fatalities, injuries, and damage to property. In response, the police have continued to strengthen intelligence-driven operations and community engagement initiatives to tackle the menace.