The Abia State Police Command has recovered 28 human skulls and assorted bones from two suspected criminal camps in forests located in Umuaku-Isuochi and Nneato, Umunneochi Local Government Area of the state.
The remains were discovered during an intelligence-led operation involving personnel from the Violent Crime Response Unit, Anti-Kidnapping Unit, Anti-Cultism Unit, Intelligence Response Squad, Isuochi Divisional Police Station and Rapid Response Squad.
The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, DSP Maureen Chinaka, disclosed the development on Sunday, saying the operation was part of efforts to dismantle criminal hideouts across the state.
She said the raids were carried out on the directive of the Commissioner of Police, CP Wilfred Afolabi, under the command’s “Operation No Hideout for Criminal Elements in the State” campaign.
According to Chinaka, the suspected criminals fled their camps before the arrival of the tactical teams, leading to the subsequent dismantling of the hideouts.
She said the recovered skulls and bones were suspected to be the remains of victims of kidnapping, while investigations had commenced to establish their identities and determine how they came to be at the locations.
“The suspects fled upon the arrival of the command’s tactical operatives, while the criminal camps were subsequently dismantled,” the statement said.
The command said it had intensified efforts to track down the fleeing suspects and was maintaining surveillance around the affected areas as investigations continued.
The Commissioner of Police, Afolabi, reaffirmed the command’s commitment to preventing criminals from using forests and other secluded locations as operational bases.
The police also appealed to residents to assist security agencies by providing timely information on suspicious activities and reporting security concerns to the nearest police station.
