By ZAKAA LAZARUS
Troops of 82 Division/Joint Task Force South East, Operation UDO KA, in collaboration with operatives of the Department of State Services, DSS, have arrested a notorious kidnapping syndicate commander and recovered four AK-47 rifles, seven magazines and 133 rounds of 7.62mm Special ammunition from a forest hideout in Enugu State.
This was contained in a statement signed by the Acting Deputy Director Army Public Relations, 82 Division Nigerian Army, Lieutenant Colonel Olabisi Olalekan Ayeni, on Sunday, August 10, 2026.
According to the statement, the suspect was apprehended during a coordinated intelligence-led operation in the Gariki General Area of Enugu State. The operation followed sustained efforts to dismantle the criminal syndicate responsible for the abduction of two persons in Udi Local Government Area on August 2, 2026.
The statement said the arrest followed an earlier operation in which troops neutralised one member of the syndicate and apprehended another. Subsequent exploitation of the arrested suspect yielded critical intelligence that led to the identification of the fleeing syndicate commander and the location of the group’s concealed arms cache.
Acting on the intelligence, troops intensified the manhunt, leading to the tracking, interception and arrest of the fleeing commander as he attempted to escape from Enugu State.
Preliminary investigations indicate that the suspect is linked to several kidnapping activities across the South East and North Central regions. Items recovered from him include US$1,000, ₦785,900 in cash and other incriminating items.
Further exploitation of intelligence obtained from the suspects led troops to Umuchingu Ujenike Forest, where members of the syndicate had concealed their weapons. During the follow-up operation, troops recovered four AK-47 rifles, seven AK-47 magazines and 133 rounds of 7.62mm Special ammunition from the forest hideout.
The statement noted that the operations demonstrate the effectiveness of intelligence-driven joint operations in disrupting organised criminal networks, apprehending fleeing suspects and denying criminal elements access to weapons and safe havens.
The arrested syndicate commander is currently undergoing further interrogation to facilitate follow-on operations aimed at apprehending other members of the criminal network and their collaborators.
Operation UDO KA said it remains steadfast in sustaining aggressive, intelligence-led operations against criminal elements across the South East, and will continue to pursue all those who threaten the peace and security of law-abiding citizens.
