The Enugu State Police Command has detained three male suspects and recovered firearms, ammunition, and illegal drugs in a series of intelligence-led operations aimed at curbing crime in the state.

According to a statement issued by the command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Daniel Ndukwe, the operations stemmed from credible intelligence that pointed security agents toward suspected criminal hideouts in the state.

SP Ndukwe said that on January 19, 2026, operatives of the Anti-Cultism Tactical Squad acting on actionable information detained Emmanuel Mba (31) and Nnam Onukwube (35) in the Awkunanaw area of Enugu South Local Government Area.

The suspects allegedly admitted membership in the Supreme Vikings Confraternity, a group linked to cult-related activities in the area, with Mba identified as the group’s head and executioner in the council area as of December 2025.

During the operation, police recovered a pump-action gun, a locally fabricated Beretta-type pistol, and 31 live cartridges from the suspects.

They also seized a large wrap of cannabis sativa, an HP laptop, and a motorcycle believed to be used in criminal activities.

Similar Incidents Addressed by the Police

In a related operation conducted on January 31, officers raided suspected criminal hideouts in the Agbani area of the state.

Eight additional individuals were detained, though only one — Monday Ezeani (32) — was found in possession of a dried substance believed to be cannabis sativa and 39 pellets of suspected crystal methamphetamine (“Mkpuru-mmiri”). The others were released after a preliminary investigation.

SP Ndukwe said the command’s focus remains on proactive policing and disrupting criminal networks that endanger public safety.

He noted that the state’s Commissioner of Police, Mr. Mamman Giwa, has reaffirmed the command’s commitment to protecting lives and property.

“We call on individuals involved in armed robbery, cultism, and illicit drug activities to repent or face the full weight of the law,” Ndukwe said in the police statement.

Intelligence-driven operations such as these have long been advocated for and are crucial in disrupting criminal networks and reducing violent crime.