The Abia State Police Command says it has arrested 245 suspects and rescued 27 victims, including nine kidnapped persons and 18 trafficked children, between January and June 2025.
Commissioner of Police, Danladi Isa, made the disclosure during a media briefing held in Umuahia on Friday.
He noted that the arrests comprised 230 male and 15 female suspects, achieved through intensified security operations across the state.
“This achievement is a result of our relentless efforts to tackle crime and ensure that Abia State remains a safe environment for all,” CP Isa stated.
“We are determined to sustain this momentum in collaboration with relevant stakeholders.”
The police chief further revealed that the command recovered a large cache of arms, ammunition, and stolen property during the period under review. These include 15 locally made short guns, four AK-47 rifles, two Ruger 1022 Archangel military rifles, a long-range smoke gun, a pump-action gun, and several pistols, among others. A total of 347 rounds of ammunition were also recovered.
Also retrieved were items suspected to be cannabis and other illicit substances, as well as stolen vehicles, motorcycles, tricycles, and a variety of electronics, tools, and household appliances.
“Among the recovered items are four vehicles, two motorcycles, three tricycles, six inverter batteries, two LG television sets, mobile phones, and cartons of fake wine,” Isa added. “We also confiscated gas cylinders, electrical cables, weaponry like daggers and machetes, and materials believed to be linked to vandalism, including armoured cables and transformer parts.”
The commissioner emphasized that the command’s accomplishments cut across the fight against murder, armed robbery, kidnapping, rape, and property vandalism. “Several of these cases have been charged to court, and we have secured successful prosecutions in many instances,” he said.
He commended the resilience of officers and the support from other security agencies, while also calling for more cooperation from the public. “Security is a shared responsibility. We urge residents of Abia to continue to partner with us by providing useful information that will aid crime prevention,” Isa urged.
Reassuring the public of the police’s commitment to law enforcement, the CP concluded, “The Abia State Police Command remains dedicated to the protection of lives and property. Our men are working round the clock to rid the state of criminal elements.”