The Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU) operatives of the Nigeria police Command in Abia State have apprehended 17 male suspected cultists linked to the recent fatal cult-related activities in the State.
The suspects were arrested at their various meeting points and while en route to perpetrate further crimes in the State.
The Command’s spokesperson, DSP Maureen Chinaka said on Tuesday in a statement that the hoodlums were said to be among the perpetrators of the attack that occurred on May 13, 2026 at No. 29 Brass Road, Aba, where a young man was shot and macheted to death by a group of cultists.
In addition, the criminal suspects, aged between 18 and 28 years, were also attacked on May 24, 2026 at Ehere, near Opobo Junction, where another young man was shot by suspected cultists in the State.
The Command’s stated that operatives of the Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU) successfully carriedout the attack, leveraging on actionable intelligence, took the fight to the criminals in the State.
The statement said five short guns, three live ammunition, thirteen mobile phones of different makes in addition to two cutlasses, one axe and a black beret were recovered from the suspects whose ages were given as 18 and 28.
Part of the statement reads, “Following the recent upsurge in cult-related activities in the State, including the attack on 13/05/2026 at No. 29 Brass Road, Aba, where a young man was shot and macheted to death by a group of suspected cultists; and the attack on 24/05/2026 at Ehere, near Opobo Junction, where another young man was shot by suspected cultists
“The Abia State Police Command, leveraging on actionable intelligence, took the fight to the criminals. Operatives of the Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU) successfully apprehended seventeen suspected cultists linked to the aforementioned incidents in Aba, Abia State”, according to the police spokesperson.
The statement further said Investigation has been concluded and the suspects are being charged to court.
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