A vigilance group in Abia on Thursday arrested 31 persons for allegedly being in possession of hard drugs and four locally made double barrel guns.
Mr Martins Idika-Mba, the Commandant of the group, announced the arrest in Umuahia while briefing journalists.
The commandant said the suspects were caught at four different hide-outs in Umuahia between Nov. 27 and November 28.
He listed other items recovered from the suspects to include12 live ammunition, 212 wraps of substance suspected to be cocaine, bags of substance suspected to be cannabis and a travelling bag filled with packet shirts.
The commandant said the group also recovered 19 GSM handsets, jack-knife, scissors, N14,310 cash and one tricycle with registration no Imo QE 469 MGD, among others.
Idika-Mba said the group raided the hide-outs as part of its `Operation Restore Calm’ in major towns in Abia to rid the state of criminals ahead of the Christmas and New Year festivities.
“As part of `Operation Restore Calm’ of the Abia State Vigilance Group, my men raided four hide-outs at Ugwunchara, Eziama Ossa behind Merit Hotel, former Mgbuka market and Ubaka Street all in Umuahia between Nov. 27 and Nov. 28,’’ he said.
Idika-Mba said the operation would be extended to other major towns, adding that the suspects would be handed over to the police and Nigeria Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for further actions.
He said that though Abia vigilance group had logistic and mobility challenges, the support given to it by the state government was enough to boost their morale.
Idika-Mba, however, urged parents to monitor the activities of their children and wards to ensure that they did not fall into bad groups.