The Abia State Community Policing and Vigilante (ACPV) operatives led by their State Commander, Apostle Daniel Iheadindueme, have recorded another breakthrough in the fight against crime as they successfully arrested a group of suspected vandals who attempted to cart away government property.
The suspects were nabbed on Sunday, September 14, 2025, at about 5:15pm within the premises of the Meteorological Institute, Aba, located in Obingwa Local Government Area of Abia State.
The criminals, who arrived with an 18-tyre Mack truck and a green Toyota Tacoma pickup van, had already loaded the vehicles with assorted sizes and varieties of iron materials allegedly stolen from the institute.
Sources said the vandals were preparing to drive out of the facility when luck ran out on them. Acting on intelligence, ACPV operatives who had been deployed to the institute quietly laid an ambush and swooped on the suspects as they attempted to move the loaded trucks.
Following the arrest, the officers immediately alerted the Ohuru Isimiri Police Division, which promptly dispatched its personnel to the scene for reinforcement. The swift coordination between the vigilante group and the police ensured that the suspects were taken into custody without incident, while the stolen irons and vehicles were secured as exhibits.
Addressing reporters after the operation, the ACPV State Commander, Apostle Daniel Iheadindueme, commended his officers for their vigilance and resilience in curbing criminality across the state.
He expressed gratitude to Governor Alex Otti for his unwavering commitment to security, noting that such support has continued to empower local security outfits to complement conventional law enforcement agencies.
Apostle Daniel Iheadindueme, however, appealed to the government for more operational tools to enable the outfit to function more effectively, especially in protecting strategic government facilities across Abia.
Also present at the scene was the Mayor of Obingwa LGA, Hon. Maxwell Nwadike, who lauded the efforts of the ACPV operatives and reaffirmed the local government’s support for initiatives aimed at ensuring the safety of lives and property.
He assured residents that the administration, in collaboration with state authorities, would continue to strengthen community policing as part of measures to rid Obingwa and the entire state of crime.
