Abia Police Arrest 17 Cultists, Warn Against Cultism

The Abia Police Command has made it clear that cultism and other crimes have no place in the state.

The Abia State Commissioner of Police, Danladi Isa, shared this message in a statement on Wednesday. He used the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Maureen Chioma Chinaka, to pass the information, announcing that 17 cultists were arrested in the state.

The statement revealed that all the suspects are males aged between 18 and 28 years.

The police recovered several items from the suspects. These items include five short guns, three live ammunition, thirteen mobile phones of different brands, two cutlasses, one axe, and one black beret.

The police explained, "Following the recent rise in cult-related activities in the State, including an attack on 13/05/2026 at No. 29 Brass Road, Aba. A young man was shot and macheted to death by suspected cultists. Another attack occurred on 24/05/2026 at Ehere, near Opobo Junction, where another young man was shot by suspected cultists."

The Abia State Police Command used actionable intelligence to tackle the issue. Operatives from the Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU) captured seventeen suspects linked to these violent incidents in Aba.

The suspects were caught at their meeting points and while on their way to commit more crimes. The police also recovered the listed items from them. The investigation is complete, and the suspects are set to face charges in court.

Isa emphasized the command's strong commitment to protecting lives and property. He also mentioned the importance of preventing and detecting crime in the state.

Isa assured the people of Abia, "There will be no hiding place for cultism and other criminal activities in the state."

He added that the command is running an awareness campaign through the Police Campaign Against Cultism and Other Vices (POCACOV) in schools and communities. He urged the public to work with the police by reporting any suspicious individuals or activities to the nearest police station.

Cult-related violence has continued to be a major concern in parts of Abia State, especially in busy areas like Aba. Clashes between rival groups have led to deaths, injuries, and damage to property.

In response, the police have stepped up intelligence-led operations and public awareness campaigns through POCACOV. This aims to discourage young people from joining cults and to reduce related crimes.