Property theft emerged as the most prevalent crime in Ebonyi State in 2025, as the State Police Command recorded 156 cases of stealing out of a total of 913 criminal cases handled during the year.
The Ebonyi State Police Command disclosed this in its 2025 operational review released in Abakaliki, revealing that a total of 1,733 suspects were arrested in connection with various crimes across the state.
According to the police, the suspects comprised 1,624 males and 109 females. Out of the total cases recorded, 462 cases involving 844 suspects — 822 males and 22 females were thoroughly investigated and charged to court.
The crime statistics showed that stealing topped the crime chart, followed by 88 cases of murder, 48 cases of armed robbery, 36 cases of unlawful possession of firearms, and 30 cases of rape, among other offences.
The Command also recorded significant operational successes during the period under review, including the recovery of assorted arms and ammunition.
Items recovered included 35 locally fabricated single and double-barrel pistols and long guns, seven pump-action rifles, six AK-47 and other assault rifles, as well as 149 rounds of assorted ammunition.
In addition, police operatives successfully rescued nine kidnapped victims and recovered six stolen vehicles, including a Sino truck that was being vandalised for sale as scrap.
The Commissioner of Police, CP Adaku Uche-Anya, attributed the achievements to proactive policing strategies, intelligence-led operations, and strong community engagement.
She noted that throughout the year, she embarked on security tours across the 13 local government areas of the state, engaging traditional rulers, community leaders, youth groups, and other stakeholders to promote peace and collective responsibility for security.
CP Uche-Anya expressed appreciation to officers and men of the Command, sister security agencies, strategic stakeholders, and the people of Ebonyi State for their cooperation, which she said was critical to the successes recorded.
She assured residents that the Command would build on the gains in 2026 by deepening community policing initiatives, strengthening inter-agency collaboration, enhancing officers’ capacity through continuous training, and upholding professionalism and civility in police-public relations.
The Ebonyi State Police Command reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding lives and property while sustaining public confidence in policing across the state.
