(Police Command. Photo by Daily Post)
The Abia State Police Command has issued a stern warning that cultism and other criminal activities will not be tolerated in the state, announcing the arrest of 17 suspected cultists as part of its crackdown on cult-related violence.
The warning was delivered by the State Commissioner of Police, Danladi Isa, through a statement issued on Wednesday via the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Maureen Chioma Chinaka.
All 17 suspects are male, aged between 18 and 28 years. Items recovered from them include five short guns, three live ammunition rounds, 13 mobile phones of various makes, two cutlasses, one axe, and one black beret.
The command explained that the arrests followed a recent surge in cult-related incidents in the state, including a May 13, 2026 attack at No. 29 Brass Road, Aba, in which a young man was shot and hacked to death by suspected cultists, and another attack on May 24, 2026, at Ehere near Opobo Junction, where another young man was shot by suspected cult members.
Acting on credible intelligence, operatives of the Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU) tracked down and apprehended the 17 suspects at their various meeting points and while some were reportedly on their way to carry out further crimes.
The command stated that investigations have been concluded and the suspects are being charged to court.
Commissioner Isa reaffirmed the command’s commitment to its constitutional mandate of protecting lives and property, and assured residents of Abia State that criminals regardless of their affiliations would have nowhere to hide.
He also encouraged members of the public to cooperate with the police by reporting suspicious persons or activities to the nearest station.
The command added that its awareness and prevention efforts through the Police Campaign Against Cultism and Other Vices (POCACOV) unit are ongoing in schools and communities across the state, as part of a broader strategy to discourage young people from joining cult groups and to reduce cult-related crimes.
Cult violence has remained a persistent security challenge in parts of Abia State, particularly in Aba, where clashes between rival groups have repeatedly led to deaths, injuries, and destruction of property.
The police have responded by stepping up intelligence-led operations and public sensitisation campaigns to address the problem at its roots.