Police Raid Abia Hideouts, Arrest 31 Suspected Drug Offenders

(Criminal hideouts. Photo Credit: Punch News)

The Abia State Police Command has raided several criminal hideouts across the state and arrested 31 suspects over alleged possession of illicit drugs.

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

According to the statement, the suspects comprise 30 men aged between 22 and 46, and one woman.

Chinaka said the operation followed a directive by the Commissioner of Police to intensify raids on criminal enclaves across the state, noting that it formed part of the command’s ongoing clearance operational strategies and sustained crackdown on criminal hideouts.

She said 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,” describing 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.

According to the police, 30 male suspects and one female suspect were arrested during the operation, while substances suspected to be illicit drugs were recovered.

The command also said that on July 1, 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 since 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.

He also urged members of the public to support the police by providing timely and credible information on criminal activities to the nearest police station.