By CHARLES IWUOHA

In a major boost to security and crime prevention efforts in Ebonyi State, the Police Command has arrested no fewer than 1,733 suspects and rescued nine kidnapped victims across the state in 2025.

The disclosure was made in a statement issued on Thursday by the State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Joshua Ukandu.

According to the statement, the achievements were recorded under the leadership of the Commissioner of Police, CP Adaku Uche-Anya, an ardent advocate of community policing.

Within the year under review, the Commissioner undertook extensive tours of the 13 Local Government Areas of the state, engaging strategic stakeholders and emphasising dialogue, peace, and collaboration as key instruments for sustainable societal growth.

SP Ukandu revealed that the Command handled 913 cases during the period, leading to the arrest of 1,624 male and 109 female suspects.

"Out of these, 462 cases involving 822 male and 22 female suspects were thoroughly investigated and charged to court".

He noted that major offences investigated by the Command included 88 cases of murder, 48 cases of armed robbery, 30 cases of rape, 156 cases of stealing, and 36 cases of unlawful possession of firearms, among others.

On operational successes, the Command explained that it recovered 35 locally fabricated single and double-barrelled pistols and long guns, seven pump-action rifles, six AK-47 and other assault rifles, as well as 149 rounds of assorted ammunition.

The police also recovered six stolen vehicles, including a Sino truck that was being vandalised for sale as scrap.

The Commissioner of Police, CP Uche-Anya, expressed deep appreciation to officers of the Command, sister security agencies, strategic stakeholders, and peace-loving residents of Ebonyi State for their cooperation, which contributed to the successes recorded in 2025.

She further assured that in 2026, the Command would consolidate on the gains by deepening community policing initiatives, strengthening, synergy with sister security agencies, enhancing officers’ capacity through in-house training, and ensuring professionalism and civility in police-public relations.