The Abia State Police Command has announced the arrest of suspects linked to the attack on the Uratta Divisional Police Headquarters, alongside the rescue of 10 stolen children and the recovery of firearms and stolen vehicles during a series of security operations across the state.
The Commissioner of Police, Afolabi Wilfred, disclosed the achievements while briefing journalists on the command's activities from September 11, 2026, to date.
According to the police chief, operatives working on credible intelligence and in collaboration with other security agencies arrested some individuals suspected of participating in the October 17 attack on the Uratta Divisional Police Headquarters.
Preliminary investigations revealed that one of the suspects allegedly confessed to leading the group responsible for the attack. Police said investigations are continuing to identify and apprehend other accomplices involved in the incident.
In a separate operation on October 25, operatives of the Anti-Kidnapping Unit raided a location in Ubakala, Umuahia South Local Government Area, while investigating an attempted murder case. A suspect identified as Osita was arrested, and officers recovered two locally made firearms, 16 live cartridges and four expended cartridges.
The command also arrested 30-year-old Chisholm Okechukwu, who is alleged to have supplied ammunition illegally. Both suspects have been charged to court.
On child trafficking and abduction cases, the commissioner said officers of the Violent Crime Response Unit arrested two suspects on October 11 for conspiracy and alleged child stealing. Two children, seven-year-old Chiamaka Chikeze and her nine-month-old sibling, Goodluck Chikeze, were rescued and reunited with their parents. The suspects have since been charged to court.
Police also dismantled a vehicle theft syndicate, arresting five suspects, including Chimezie Moses, 43, and Kelechi Matthew Onoegu, 40. A stolen Toyota Corolla was recovered during the operation, and the suspects were subsequently arraigned.
In another breakthrough, operatives arrested Vincent Chidera, 27, and Onwachukwu Ernest, 25, over alleged unlawful possession of a fabricated firearm and suspected involvement in cult-related activities. The pair were accused of using a locally made gun to rob students of Abia State University, Uturu, of their phones and other valuables.
Investigators said one of the suspects confessed to being a member of the Black Axe confraternity, while efforts are ongoing to track down other members of the group.
The Anti-Kidnapping Unit also raided a criminal hideout in Imuizi on October 28, leading to the arrest of a 38-year-old suspect identified as Iheanyi. Officers recovered a locally fabricated double-barrel shotgun from the location, and the suspect has been charged to court.
Providing an overview of the command's performance, Wilfred said police recorded 211 cases involving various offences, including road traffic incidents, during the review period. A total of 109 suspects, comprising 89 men and 20 women, were arrested.
He added that police investigated four cult-related cases, resulting in nine arrests, while intelligence-led operations led to the recovery of 15 firearms, 60 rounds of ammunition and 30 stolen vehicles.
The commissioner further revealed that sustained security operations helped rescue 10 stolen children, who have since been reunited with their families, while suspected illicit drugs were also recovered.
Wilfred attributed the decline in criminal activities across the state to proactive policing, intelligence gathering and targeted operational raids. He reaffirmed the command's commitment to strengthening community partnerships and improving security through increased police visibility and public cooperation.
He urged residents to continue providing timely information to security agencies, stressing that the fight against crime remains a collective responsibility.
"Our partnership with the public remains essential to sustaining peace and security across Abia State," the commissioner said.