Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Abia State Police Command has raided several criminal hideouts across the state, arresting 31 suspects over alleged possession of illicit drugs and destroying eight makeshift camps used as safe havens for criminal syndicates.
The command disclosed this in a statement issued on Monday, 13 July 2026, by its Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Maureen Chioma Chinaka, on behalf of the Commissioner of Police, CP Danladi Isa. According to the statement, the suspects comprise 30 men aged between 22 and 46 years, and one woman. Chinaka said the operation followed a directive by the Commissioner of Police to intensify raids on criminal enclaves across the state as part of the command’s ongoing clearance operational strategies.
Acting on intelligence, operatives of the Central Police Station, Umuahia, in collaboration with community vigilantes, raided identified black spots within the Mission Hill/New Road axis, popularly known as “Down Below.” The statement described the location as an obscure area characterised by a deep valley stretching into the bush. Another criminal hideout at Amuzukwu, known for drug bunkering and serving as a refuge for criminals, was also successfully raided.
During the operation, police arrested 30 male suspects and one female suspect, while substances suspected to be illicit hard drugs were recovered. The command also said that on 1 July 2026, operatives revisited the same locations following sustained intelligence gathering and uncovered makeshift camps allegedly used by criminal elements. About eight tents and camps constructed with baboon sticks and tarpaulin materials were destroyed and burnt to ashes to dislodge the criminal syndicates and disrupt their activities.
All suspects have been charged to court and remanded at the correctional service. The Commissioner of Police reaffirmed the command’s commitment to tackling crime in the state, saying it would continue to review and strengthen its operational strategies to ensure the safety of residents and sustain pressure on criminal elements. Isa also urged members of the public to support the police by providing timely and credible information on criminal activities to the nearest police station.
The raid comes amid heightened security operations across Abia State, where authorities have intensified efforts to dismantle criminal networks and combat the proliferation of illicit drugs. The operation underscores the command's determination to deny criminals safe havens and restore public confidence in the state's security architecture.
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