The Abia State Police Command has recovered 28 human skulls and other human bones from suspected criminal camps in forests around Isuochi and Nneato communities in Umunneochi Local Government Area of the state.
The recovery was made during an intelligence-led operation aimed at dismantling criminal hideouts across the state.
The command’s spokesperson, Maureen Chinaka, disclosed this in a statement on Monday, saying the operation was conducted under the command’s “Operation No Hideout for Criminal Elements in the State.”
According to her, operatives from the Violent Crime Response Unit, Anti-Kidnapping Unit, Anti-Cultism Unit, Intelligence Response Unit, Rapid Response Squad and Isuochi Police Headquarters participated in the operation.
Chinaka said the operatives raided suspected criminal camps in the forests around Umuaku and Isuochi, as well as another camp in Nneato, following intelligence on criminal activities in the area.
She said the suspects fled upon sighting the operatives, leaving the camps abandoned.
“Upon arrival of the Command tactical operatives at the camps, the suspects ran. The criminal camps were subsequently scattered,” she said.
During a search of the abandoned camps, the operatives discovered 28 human skulls and other bones.
Chinaka said the police suspected that the remains could belong to kidnapping victims, but noted that the identities of the deceased and circumstances surrounding their deaths had not been established.
“A total of 28 human skulls and bones, which we suspect are kidnap victims, were recovered,” she said.
She added that some of the remains were already decomposed and that the command had commenced an investigation to establish the identities of the deceased and determine whether they were linked to reported cases of kidnapping in the area.
Chinaka said the command had intensified surveillance in the area and was making efforts to apprehend the fleeing suspects.
“Investigation is ongoing, while monitoring of the area continues, and efforts are high to catch the suspects who are on the run,” she added.
The police urged residents of Umunneochi and neighbouring communities to provide useful information that could help security agencies track down the suspects and dismantle criminal networks operating in the area.