Police arrest 30 for ‘robbery, cultism’, recover weapons in Imo

The Imo state police command says its operatives have arrested 30 suspects for armed robbery, car snatching, cultism, and unlawful possession of firearms.

In a statement on Tuesday, Henry Okoye, police spokesperson in Imo, said men of the quick intervention team (QIT) and rapid response team (RRT) recovered three vehicles allegedly stolen by the suspects at different locations in the state. 

“On 7th November 2025, at about 7:00 p.m., armed hoodlums snatched a Mercedes-Benz GLE 350 with registration number ABC-10CG from one Chukwuebuka and his friends at Ikenegbu by Holy Family Catholic Hospital, Owerri. Following a distress call, QIT operatives tracked the vehicle towards Okigwe road and recovered it at about 10:30 p.m.,” the statement reads.

“One suspect, Adamu Sani (male) of Kachia LGA, Kaduna state, was arrested and confessed to the crime, naming Abdullahi, Emmanuel, and Emeka as his accomplices.

“Similarly, on 8th November, 2025, at about 3:00am, QIT operatives recovered a black Toyota Hilux with registration number NEM-14AG, reportedly stolen from a hotel in Rivers State, where it was abandoned at New Owerri by De Angelsaround 5:00am.
On the same day, a Toyota Venza earlier snatched by three armed men at New Owerri by De Compound on 7th November, 2025, was recovered abandoned at Yar’Adua Drive by Chosen Church at about 5:30pm. All vehicles have been identified by their owners, while efforts are ongoing to arrest other fleeing suspects.

“In a related development, on 2nd November, 2025, at about 8:30am, operatives of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) on stop-and-search duty along Owerri/Aba Road intercepted two young men in a commercial bus heading to Owerri. A search conducted on them led to the recovery of a cut-to-size locally fabricated double-barrel gun with three live cartridges.

“The suspects, identified as Uchechukwu Ahamefule ‘m’ (25yrs) and Miracle Eberechi ‘m’ (28yrs), both of Ogbu Umuorji, Osisioma, Abia State, confessed to being members of the Vikings/Bagar confraternity cult group.

“They admitted to having seized the firearm from a rival cult group in Aba for their own protection. The case is under investigation as further efforts are ongoing to apprehend other members of their syndicate.”

Okoye said Aboki Danjuma, the commissioner of police, assured that the command will sustain its proactive policing approach to rid Imo state of criminal elements.

He added that the police chief urged residents to remain law-abiding and to provide useful information that will assist the force in keeping the state safe.