UMUAHIA, Nigeria — The Abia State Police Command has announced a major breakthrough in its fight against crime, disclosing that 10 stolen children have been rescued and reunited with their families, while 109 suspects were arrested during operations targeting child theft, armed robbery, vehicle theft and other criminal activities.

The Commissioner of Police, Wilfred Afolabi, disclosed the achievements on Friday, November 6, while presenting the command's operational report covering September 11 to November 6, 2026.

According to Afolabi, police recorded 211 cases involving various criminal offences and road traffic incidents during the period, leading to the arrest of 89 men and 20 women.

The command also recovered 15 firearms, 60 rounds of ammunition, 30 stolen vehicles and substances suspected to be illicit drugs.

The police commissioner attributed the results to intelligence-led investigations, targeted operations and improved cooperation with other security agencies.

Among the significant developments was the arrest of suspects allegedly involved in the October 17 attack on the Uratta Divisional Police Headquarters.

Afolabi revealed that preliminary investigations had led to the identification and arrest of some suspected members of the gang responsible for the assault.

He said one of the suspects allegedly confessed to leading the group that attacked the police facility.

However, investigations are continuing to identify other individuals involved and establish the full circumstances surrounding the incident.

In another operation, officers attached to the command's Anti-Kidnapping Unit raided a location in Ubakala, Umuahia South Local Government Area, on October 25, arresting a suspect identified as Osita in connection with an attempted murder investigation.

During the operation, police recovered two locally fabricated firearms, 16 live cartridges and four expended cartridges.

A second suspect, aged 30, was subsequently arrested over allegations of illegally supplying ammunition.

Afolabi confirmed that both suspects had been charged to court following investigations.

The police commissioner also highlighted operations against child theft, announcing that 10 children had been rescued and reunited with their families during the reporting period.

In one of the cases, operatives of the Violent Crime Response Unit arrested two suspects on October 11 over the alleged theft of two children, aged seven years and nine months.

The children were recovered and reunited with their parents, while the suspects were charged to court.

Afolabi said the rescue operations followed sustained intelligence gathering, proactive policing and coordinated investigations targeting individuals suspected of involvement in child theft.

The command also reported the disruption of a suspected vehicle theft network following the arrest of five individuals allegedly involved in stealing and trafficking vehicles.

A Toyota Corolla bearing registration number ROU 9338J was recovered during the investigation.

Police said the suspects had been charged to court.

Meanwhile, two suspected cult members were arrested on October 31 following allegations that they threatened and robbed students of Abia State University, Uturu, at gunpoint.

The suspects, aged 27 and 25, allegedly dispossessed students of mobile phones and other valuables while armed with a locally fabricated firearm.

Police recovered the weapon during the operation.

According to Afolabi, one of the suspects allegedly admitted belonging to the Black Axe Confraternity, while investigations continued to identify and apprehend other suspected members of the group.

The commissioner also disclosed that four cult-related cases were investigated during the reporting period, resulting in the arrest of nine suspects.

He maintained that the command's operations had helped dismantle criminal networks and disrupt activities threatening public safety across the state.

Afolabi said the police had observed a reduction in reported criminal activities during the period under review, although the command did not provide comparative figures to independently establish the scale of the decline.

He reaffirmed the command's commitment to intelligence-driven policing, increased operational visibility and stronger cooperation with residents.

The police commissioner also emphasised the importance of community participation, urging members of the public to share credible information about suspicious activities and cooperate with security personnel.

He maintained that effective crime prevention required collaboration between law enforcement agencies and the communities they serve.

While several suspects have been charged to court, investigations into other cases remain ongoing. The allegations against those arrested have not been established by convictions, and the suspects retain their right to a fair trial.

The latest operations come amid continuing concerns about child theft, organised criminal networks, armed robbery and cult-related violence in parts of southeastern Nigeria.

For the Abia State Police Command, the reported rescue of 10 children and recovery of stolen vehicles and firearms represent significant developments in ongoing efforts to strengthen public safety and protect vulnerable residents.

Afolabi assured residents that the command would sustain its security operations while expanding intelligence gathering and collaboration with other agencies to prevent further criminal activities across the state.

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