The Abia State Police Command has arrested two suspects in separate intelligence-led operations and recovered firearms, suspected cannabis and three motorcycles believed to have been stolen.


The command disclosed this in a statement, saying the operations were carried out by operatives of the Anti-Kidnapping Unit and the Rapid Response Squad in different parts of the state.


In the first operation, police operatives acting on actionable intelligence raided a suspected criminal hideout at Onitsha Ngwa in Obingwa Local Government Area on September 23, 2026.

The police said the raid was conducted in line with the directive of the Commissioner of Police, CP Wilfred Olutokunbo Afolabi, and the Inspector-General of Police’s vision of intelligence-led policing.


According to the command, the suspects fled upon sighting the police, but operatives recovered a locally made single-barrel long gun and a 50kg bag containing substances suspected to be Cannabis Sativa.


The police subsequently arrested 20-year-old Ebuka Nwakerindu, of Umuokoromiri Village, Isiala Ngwa South Local Government Area, on September 24.


Three motorcycles were also recovered from Nwakerindu, who the police alleged specialises in the theft and resale of motorcycles.


In a separate operation, the command arrested 28-year-old Ugochukwu Precious, of Umuohia, Ogbor Hill, Aba, over allegations bordering on violent crime, cultism and unlawful possession of firearms.


The police said the suspect was initially reported to the Rapid Response Squad in Aba North over an alleged failure to pay for an iPhone 17 Pro Max obtained under the guise of payment on delivery in April 2026.


According to the command, the matter allegedly escalated after the suspect was accused of using thugs and threats against the seller.


Police operatives, acting on intelligence, arrested the suspect and said he made confessional statements during interrogation. A pump-action shotgun was subsequently recovered from him on September 23.


The command said investigations into both cases are ongoing, while efforts are being made to apprehend other suspects who fled during the operations.

The police said the recovered exhibits remain in custody and the suspects will be charged to court after the conclusion of investigations.


CP Afolabi reiterated the command’s commitment to proactive crime prevention, intelligence-led policing and the protection of lives and property across Abia State.


The Commissioner also urged residents to remain law-abiding and provide the police with timely and useful information that could assist in preventing and combating crime.