The Imo State Police Command has arrested 30 suspects for alleged armed robbery, cultism, and unlawful possession of firearms.
Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Henry Okoye, disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday, noting that the arrests were made during various operations carried out in recent months. He added that three snatched vehicles, two motorcycles, arms, and ammunition were recovered.
According to the statement:
“Operatives of the Imo State Police Command have recorded a series of operational successes within the past months, following the swift response of the Quick Intervention Team (QIT) and the Rapid Response Squad (RRS). During these operations, the Command arrested thirty (30) suspects for offences including armed robbery, car snatching, cultism, and unlawful possession of firearms. A large cache of arms and ammunition, three snatched vehicles, and two motorcycles were recovered.”
Okoye explained that on 7 November 2025, around 7:00 p.m., gunmen snatched a Mercedes Benz GLE 350 (registration number ABC-10CG) from one Chukwuebuka and his friends at Ikenegbu, near Holy Family Catholic Hospital, Owerri. Following a distress call, QIT operatives tracked the vehicle along Okigwe Road and recovered it at about 10:30 p.m. One suspect, Adamu Sani, was arrested and reportedly confessed, naming three accomplices who are now at large.
On 8 November 2025, at about 3:00 a.m., QIT operatives recovered a black Toyota Hilux (registration number NEM-14AG) earlier stolen from a hotel in Rivers State. It was found abandoned in New Owerri. The same day, a Toyota Venza snatched by armed men on 7 November 2025 was recovered at Yar’Adua Drive, also in New Owerri. All recovered vehicles have been identified by their owners, while efforts continue to track fleeing suspects.
In a separate incident on 2 November 2025, RRS operatives conducting a stop-and-search along Owerri/Aba Road intercepted two young men travelling in a commercial bus. A search led to the recovery of a cut-to-size locally made double-barrel gun and three live cartridges.
The suspects, Uchechukwu Ahamefule (25) and Miracle Eberechi (28), both from Ogbu Umuorji, Osisioma, Abia State, allegedly confessed to being members of a cult group and claimed they had taken the weapon from a rival group in Aba. Police say investigations are ongoing to track additional members of the syndicate.
(Vanguard)
