By Izunna Okafor, Awka
The Anambra State Police Command said it had arrested 13 suspects in separate operations across the state, recovering firearms, ammunition, charms, suspected illicit drugs, cult-related insignia and a vehicle allegedly stolen from its owner.
The latest operations, which involved personnel of the Okpoko Police Division, Rapid Response Squad (RRS), Awkuzu, Agụnechemba Vigilante and the Command’s Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU), were carried out between September 30 and October 5, 2026.
The Police Public Relations Officer of the Command, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, disclosed this in a statement issued on Tuesday in Awka, noting that the operations formed part of the Command’s sustained intelligence-led offensive against cultism, armed robbery and other criminal activities in the state.
According to Ikenga, the first breakthrough came on September 30 when operatives of the Okpoko Division, acting on credible intelligence, raided a suspected criminal hideout around Coca-Cola Market, Okpoko, and arrested a 20-year-old suspect, Somtochukwu Ezeibe.
He said the police operatives recovered a locally-made double-barrel pistol, a live cartridge and charms from the suspect, while a follow-up search at his residence led to the recovery of a Vikings Confraternity beret and peak cap.
Ikenga said preliminary investigation indicated the suspect’s alleged involvement in cult-related activities, adding that information obtained from him subsequently assisted the Police in identifying other persons allegedly linked to the group.
The PPRO said the development led to the arrest of eight additional suspects on October 5, namely Chinonso Njoku, Tochukwu Ogbonna, Chidiebere Anokwuru, Chidera Nwakpa, Nweke Chibuike, Somadina Otubo, Chibueze Ikechukwu and Obum James.
He said the eight suspects had been transferred to the Anti-Cult Unit of the Command for further investigation and possible prosecution.
In a separate operation, Ikenga said operatives of the RRS, Awkuzu, working in collaboration with the Agunechemba Vigilante, Onitsha Sector, arrested four suspects in connection with an alleged conspiracy and armed robbery.
The suspects were identified as Dennis Ngwu, Elvis Udo Effiong, Femi Adekoya and Chijioke Obinozie, with the Police PPRO saying that large quantities of suspected illicit substances were recovered from them during the October 4 operation.
According to him, a preliminary investigation indicated that the four suspects were allegedly members of a six-man gang suspected of robbing shuttle bus operators at gunpoint and diverting company goods within Onitsha.
Ikenga said the suspects had allegedly made statements implicating themselves in the offences under investigation, including the alleged diversion of goods valued at about ₦40 million.
He, however, said the investigation was still ongoing to establish the full circumstances surrounding the alleged offences and identify other persons who might be connected with the activities of the suspected gang.
Meanwhile, the Command recorded another breakthrough in the recovery of stolen property when operatives of its VCRU recovered an abandoned green Toyota Highlander during an intelligence-led patrol at Ogidi on October 5.
Ikenga said preliminary findings indicated that the vehicle was allegedly snatched from its owner at Ogidi Building Materials on August 16, 2026.
He said the recovery formed part of the Command’s continuing efforts to track down criminal elements and recover property linked to reported offences across the state.
Reacting to the development, the Commissioner of Police, CP Nnanna Oji Ama, said the Command would sustain its intelligence-led operations against cultism, armed robbery, kidnapping and other violent crimes across Anambra.
In the statement, the PPRO quoted the Commissioner as urging residents to remain vigilant and continue to provide the Police with credible and timely information that could assist in identifying and disrupting criminal activities.
Ama assured members of the public that information supplied to the Police would be treated with appropriate confidentiality and acted upon professionally, while urging Ndi Anambra to continue supporting security efforts across their communities.
