No fewer than 20 male suspects have been arrested by the Enugu State Police Command in a coordinated week-long offensive against cultism, drug trafficking, and other violent crimes, according to a statement released Wednesday by the command’s spokesperson.
The suspects were picked up in three separate operations carried out between July 7 and 14, 2026, across Independence Layout, Emene, Eke Obinagu, and Udenu Local Government Area, police said.
In the most recent raid, operatives attached to the Anti-Cultism Sub-Unit of the command’s Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU) stormed Banana Estate in Independence Layout on July 14 at about 12 noon, arresting two suspects allegedly linked to gangs accused of robbing residents and vandalising property while riding motorcycles and a tricycle.
Police identified the suspects as Ogbodo Chebe, 40, described as an alleged youth leader of the Abashie Confraternity, and Oguma Onyebuchi, 27. Suspected Colos drugs were recovered from the pair, while fleeing accomplices left behind eight motorcycles and a tricycle, which police impounded.
A week earlier, on July 7 at about 8 a.m., the same VCRU operatives raided suspected criminal hideouts in Emene and Eke Obinagu, arresting six men: Mba James Chinonso, 35; Ani Nonso, 31; Ike Nnana, 27; Chiagozie Nnamani Isaac, 19; Ede Onyenaturuchi, 21; and Ozoemena Michael, 28.
Officers recovered large quantities of substances suspected to be cannabis sativa, methamphetamine locally known as “mkpụrụ-mmiri”, and wraps of suspected cocaine, effectively disrupting the criminal network operating in the area, police said.
The largest single arrest came hours earlier the same day, when police broke up what they described as a public celebration marking the alleged 7/7 anniversary of the Black Axe (Aye) Confraternity at Owerre Eze-Oba in Udenu LG, an event police said had sparked panic among residents.
Twelve men were arrested at the scene: Obinna Odo, 22; Kenechi Odo, 39; Mba Ikenna, 37; Ugwuoke Peter, 27; Odo Ejike, 35; Ugwuanyi Chinedu, 28; Chinaza Kingsley, 20; Ebubechukwu Stanley, 21; Eze Chigekwu, 26; Arua Ekene, 21; Eze Ikenna, 38; and Odo Jude, 34. An axe, a set of drum instruments, and fourteen motorcycles were recovered.
Police said investigations are continuing to track down suspects who escaped during the raids, determine the full scale of the arrested men’s alleged criminal activities, and recover any further exhibits, adding that all suspects will be charged in court once investigations are concluded.
Commissioner of Police Mamman Bitrus Giwa praised the operatives for the operations. “These successes reflect our commitment to sustaining intelligence-driven policing against cultism, illicit drug trafficking, and other violent crimes,” the commissioner said, according to the statement, urging residents to “remain vigilant and continue providing timely and credible information to the police to enhance public safety and security across Enugu State.”
In total, the week’s operations yielded 20 arrests, 22 motorcycles, one tricycle, an axe, drum instruments, and multiple hauls of suspected hard drugs, including cannabis, methamphetamine, cocaine, and Colos, according to police.
