Police Arrest 4 Over Cultism, Alleged Theft Of Government Properties In Abia

By RhemDy News

The Abia State Police Command has apprehended three suspects over allegations of membership of criminal cult gang and another for theft and vandalising government properties.

According to a statement on Friday by the Command's Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Maureen Chioma Chinaka, police operatives also recovered firearms from the arrested suspects.

DSP Chinaka identified the suspects as 22-year-old Obioma Nmeribe, Emmanuel Lekwechi and Ikemefulla ThankGod Amadi, both 25 years old as well as 

31-year-old Bright Nnabugu. 

She further listed the items recovered from them to include 1 Beretta pistol with eight rounds;1 locally made pistol, 2 live cartridges, 1 live ammunition, 2 black berets, 1 cutlass, 1 digger, 1 locally made single-barrel long gun, 1 expended cartridge and 1 cutter and high-tension wire.

       

Speaking on both incidents, the PPRO explained that while acting on actionable intelligence that a suspected criminal gang numbering about 50 had gathered at Ubakala axis for cult activities on July 7, 2026, police operatives of the Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU), Olokoro, raced to the scene.

The Command's spokesperson said that operatives apprehended Nmeribe, Lekwechi and Amadi at the scene and recovered one Beretta pistol with eight rounds, 1 locally made pistol, 2 live cartridges, 1 live ammunition, 2 black berets, 1 cutlass, and 1 digger.

Also, on July 6, the PPRO stated that police operatives, in collaboration with sister security agencies in Operation Crush apprehended Bright Nnabugu, a 31-year-old male of Umuobasi, Ugunabor Local Government Area, and recovered 1 locally made single-barrel long gun, 1 expended cartridge, and 1 cutter with high-tension wire from him.

DSP Chinasa added that investigation was ongoing, assuring that the suspects will be charged to court upon conclusion of the investigation.

The Commissioner of Police in the State, CP Danladi Isa, advised members of the public to continue to collaborate with the police by reporting any security concerns to the nearest Police Station.

CP Isa also charged residents to make reports of criminal activities to the police  through the Command’s emergency hotlines - 08035415405, 08079210004, 08079210005, 08079210006.