The Abia State Police Command says it has arrested 17 suspected cultists, warning that there is no place for cultism and other crimes in the state.

The state Commissioner of Police, Danladi Isa, made the disclosure and issued the warning in a statement released on Wednesday through the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Maureen Chinaka.

According to the statement, the suspects are all males aged between 18 and 28 years.

PUNCH Metro learnt from the statement that the exhibits recovered include “five short guns, three live ammunition, 13 mobile phones of different makes, two cutlasses, one axe, and one black beret.”

“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 actionable intelligence, took the fight to the criminals. Operatives of the Violent Crime Response Unit successfully apprehended 17 suspected cultists linked to the aforementioned incidents in Aba, Abia State.

“The suspects were arrested at their various meeting points and while en route to perpetrate further crimes, and the above-listed exhibits were recovered from them.

“The investigation has been concluded, and the suspects are being charged to court,” the command stated.

Isa reiterated the command’s dedication to its constitutional duties of protecting lives and property, as well as preventing and detecting crime in the state.

Isa assured residents that there would be “no hiding place” for cultism and other criminal activities in the state.

“While the Command continues its awareness campaign through the Police Campaign Against Cultism and Other Vices unit in schools and communities, members of the public are advised to partner with the Police by reporting any suspicious persons or activities to the nearest police station,” Isa advised.

Cult-related violence has remained a security concern in parts of Abia State, particularly in commercial hubs such as Aba, where clashes between rival groups have occasionally resulted in deaths, injuries, and destruction of property.

In response, the police have intensified intelligence-led operations and public awareness campaigns through the Police Campaign Against Cultism and Other Vices to discourage youth involvement in cult activities and curb related crimes. (PUNCH)