Police Bust Cult Hideout in Okwu Uratta, Arrest Suspect, Recover Firearms
By Kelechi Ugo
In a continued crackdown on cultism and violent crime, the Imo State Police Command has arrested a suspected cultist and recovered locally made firearms during a targeted raid in Okwu Uratta, Owerri North Local Government Area.
The operation, carried out on Monday, September 1, 2025, by officers of the Orji Police Division, was based on credible intelligence. The suspect, identified as Anunobi Chukwuemeka, 26, from Ngor-Okpala L.G.A, was apprehended at a suspected cult hideout and found in possession of two locally fabricated pistols — a revolver and a Beretta — along with three live rounds of ammunition.
Police say Chukwuemeka confessed during interrogation to being a member of the Neo Black Movement (NBM), also known as Black Axe, a cult group outlawed by Nigerian authorities. He is currently cooperating with investigators as efforts continue to track down other members of the group, including those responsible for fabricating and distributing the illegal firearms.
The Commissioner of Police, CP Aboki Danjuma, praised the swift action of the Orji Division and reiterated the Command’s commitment to stamping out cultism and related crimes in the state.
“We will sustain this momentum until Imo is free from the grip of criminal elements,” the CP said, while urging residents to provide the police with timely and accurate information.
He also issued a stern warning to cultists and their collaborators, advising them to renounce criminal activities or face the full consequences of the law.
The Imo State Police Command encourages continued public support as it intensifies efforts to secure communities and restore public confidence.
