By Godwin Akomah, Umuahia
The Abia State Police Command has arrested 109 suspects, rescued 10 stolen children and recovered 15 firearms in a series of intelligence-led operations across the state.
The Commissioner of Police, CP Wilfred Olutokunbo Afolabi, disclosed this on Friday, November 6, 2026, during a press conference at the Command Headquarters in Umuahia, where he presented the operational achievements of the Command between September 11 and November 6.
According to the police commissioner, the Command recorded 211 cases involving various criminal offences, including road traffic accident cases, leading to the arrest of 89 male and 20 female suspects.
Afolabi further disclosed that the operations resulted in the recovery of 15 firearms, 60 rounds of ammunition, three stolen vehicles and substances suspected to be illicit drugs.
He added that 10 stolen children were successfully rescued through sustained intelligence gathering, proactive policing and targeted operations, before being reunited with their families.
The commissioner also revealed that the Command investigated four cult-related cases, resulting in the arrest of nine suspects, as part of efforts to dismantle criminal networks and curb cultism across the state.
In a significant breakthrough, the police commissioner announced the arrest of suspects allegedly involved in the attack on Uratta Divisional Police Headquarters on October 17, 2026.
Afolabi said the arrests followed actionable intelligence, adding that preliminary investigations revealed that one of the suspects allegedly confessed to leading the group responsible for the attack.
He noted that investigations were ongoing to establish the full circumstances surrounding the incident, identify other accomplices and ensure that everyone connected to the attack is brought to justice.
Beyond arrests and recoveries, the commissioner highlighted several capacity-building initiatives introduced to strengthen the operational effectiveness and professionalism of police personnel.
Among the initiatives is the revitalisation and specialised training of the Command’s Cybercrime Unit to improve its capacity to investigate internet fraud, digital financial crimes, online impersonation and other emerging cyber threats.
He explained that the training was particularly important given the growing commercial and technological activities in Aba and other parts of the state.
The Command has also introduced specialised training in crime analysis, timing and mapping to help officers identify crime-prone locations, understand criminal patterns and deploy personnel more strategically.
Other areas of training include basic intelligence gathering, information verification, firearms handling, shooting proficiency and tactical awareness.
Afolabi said the initiatives were designed to strengthen intelligence-driven policing, improve operational readiness and enable officers to respond more effectively to emerging security challenges.
The commissioner reiterated that security could not be achieved by the police alone, stressing the importance of collaboration with traditional rulers, community leaders, youth representatives, local vigilante groups and other security agencies.
He disclosed that the Command had strengthened its Community Safety Partnership Initiative through strategic engagements across police divisions, area commands and communities.
The initiative, he explained, provides an avenue for stakeholders to identify peculiar security challenges and develop practical solutions through intelligence sharing and coordinated responses.
He also disclosed that the Command recently concluded a three-day Media Audio-Visual Training on November 4, in collaboration with Her Bold Tribe.
The programme brought together police public relations personnel, designated police correspondent officers and media representatives of sister security agencies, with training focused on photography, videography, visual storytelling and professional documentation.
According to him, the initiative was aimed at improving institutional communication, public engagement and transparency.
Providing an overview of the security situation, Afolabi said the Command’s crime analysis for the period under review indicated a significant reduction in criminal activities across Abia State.
He attributed the development to sustained operational strategies, proactive policing, intelligence gathering and strategic deployment of personnel.
With the 2027 general elections approaching, the commissioner assured residents that the Command would sustain its efforts to dismantle criminal networks, prevent violence and maintain law and order across the state.
He also appealed to residents to support the police by providing timely and credible information, cooperating with security agencies and participating actively in community safety initiatives.
Also, in a statement signed by the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Maureen C. Chinaka, on behalf of the Commissioner of Police, Afolabi concluded with a renewed pledge to sustain the Command’s security drive, declaring: “Together, we keep Abia safe.”
The Commissioner reaffirmed the Command’s commitment to protecting lives and property, strengthening public confidence and ensuring a safer environment for residents and visitors.
