Abia State Police Arrest 31 Suspects, Destroy Criminal Camps in Crackdown on Drug-Related Crime

The Abia State Police Command has arrested 31 suspects during coordinated raids on criminal hideouts across the state as part of an intensified campaign against drug-related offences and other criminal activities.

The arrests were disclosed in a statement issued on Monday by the Police Public Relations Officer, Maureen Chinaka, on behalf of the Commissioner of Police, Danladi Isa.

According to the statement, those arrested include 30 men, aged between 22 and 46, and one woman. The operation followed the Commissioner’s directive to intensify raids on identified criminal enclaves across the state.

Acting on credible intelligence, operatives from the Central Police Station, Umuahia, working alongside community vigilantes, raided notorious black spots in the Mission Hill/New Road area, popularly known as “Down Below,” as well as another hideout in Amuzukwu believed to be a hub for drug bunkering and criminal activities.

During the operation, police recovered substances suspected to be illicit drugs and took all 31 suspects into custody.

The command also revealed that on July 1, 2026, security operatives returned to the locations following further intelligence gathering and discovered makeshift camps allegedly used by criminal gangs. About eight tents and shelters built with wooden poles and tarpaulin were dismantled and set ablaze to disrupt the activities of the suspected criminal syndicates.

Police confirmed that all the suspects have been charged to court and remanded in a correctional facility.

Commissioner of Police Danladi Isa reaffirmed the command’s commitment to combating crime, assuring residents that the police will continue to strengthen operational strategies and sustain pressure on criminal elements to enhance security across Abia State.