The Abia State Police Command has intensified its crackdown on criminal activities across the state, arresting 31 suspects during coordinated raids on notorious criminal hideouts and destroying several illegal camps allegedly used for drug-related activities.
The operation, which forms part of the Command’s ongoing crime-clearing strategy, was carried out under the directive of the Commissioner of Police, CP Danladi Isa, as part of renewed efforts to rid the state of criminal elements and improve public safety.
According to a statement issued on Monday by the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Maureen Chioma Chinaka, operatives from the Central Police Station (CPS), Umuahia, working alongside community vigilantes, conducted intelligence-led raids on identified black spots within the Mission Hill/New Road axis, popularly referred to as “Down Below.”
The area, described as a remote valley extending into the bush, has reportedly served as a hideout for suspected criminals. Security operatives also stormed another notorious location at Amuzukwu, believed to be a centre for illicit drug activities and a refuge for criminal gangs.
During the operation, police arrested 30 male suspects aged between 22 and 46 years and one female suspect. Officers also recovered various substances suspected to be illicit hard drugs from the locations.
The Command disclosed that following sustained intelligence gathering, operatives revisited the hideouts on July 1, 2026, where they uncovered additional makeshift camps allegedly used by criminal syndicates for concealment and the sale of illegal drugs.
About eight tents and temporary camps, constructed with wooden poles and tarpaulin materials, were demolished and set ablaze to dismantle the criminal network and prevent the locations from being reused.
According to the police, all 31 suspects have been charged to court and remanded in a correctional facility pending further legal proceedings.
Speaking on the operation, Commissioner of Police CP Danladi Isa reaffirmed the Command’s commitment to maintaining law and order across Abia State. He stressed that the police remain resolute in enforcing a zero-tolerance policy against crime and vowed to sustain intelligence-driven operations targeting criminal hideouts.
The Commissioner assured residents that Abia would continue to be hostile to criminal elements, adding that the Command would regularly review and strengthen its operational strategies to enhance security throughout the state.
He also urged members of the public to support security agencies by providing timely and credible information that could assist in preventing crime. Residents were encouraged to report suspicious activities to the nearest police station or through the Abia State Police Command’s emergency hotlines: 08035415405, 08079210004, 08079210005, and 08079210006.
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The statement concluded with a renewed appeal to residents to remain vigilant and continue partnering with law enforcement under the slogan: “See Something, Say Something.”
