By NEWSCOUNT Desk
Troops of the 82 Division/Joint Task Force South East, Operation UDO KA, working with operatives of the Department of State Services, have arrested a suspected commander of a kidnapping syndicate and recovered four AK-47 rifles, seven magazines and 133 rounds of ammunition from a forest hideout in Enugu State.
The development was disclosed in a statement issued on Monday by the Acting Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, 82 Division Nigerian Army, Lt. Col. Olabisi Olalekan Ayeni, who said the arrest followed a coordinated operation in the Gariki General Area of the state.
Ayeni said the operation was based on intelligence gathered in connection with the activities of a kidnapping syndicate allegedly involved in the abduction of two persons in Udi Local Government Area on August 2, 2026.
He said troops had earlier carried out an operation during which one member of the syndicate was neutralised and another suspect apprehended. Information obtained from the arrested suspect subsequently helped security operatives identify the syndicate commander who had fled the area.
“Acting swiftly on the intelligence, troops intensified the manhunt, leading to the tracking, interception and arrest of the fleeing syndicate commander as he attempted to escape from Enugu State,” the statement said.
The Army said preliminary investigations showed that the suspect was allegedly involved in several kidnapping operations across the South-East and North-Central regions.
Following information obtained from the suspects, troops moved to Umuchingu Ujenike Forest, where members of the syndicate were believed to have hidden their weapons.
The operation led to the recovery of four AK-47 rifles, seven AK-47 magazines and 133 rounds of 7.62mm Special ammunition from the forest hideout.
The Army said the arrested suspect was undergoing further interrogation, adding that information obtained from him would be used in the search for other members of the syndicate and their collaborators.
The military said the operation had disrupted the activities of the group and removed a quantity of firearms and ammunition from its possession.
It added that troops of Operation UDO KA would continue to work with the DSS and other security agencies in operations against kidnapping and other criminal activities in the South-East.
“Troops will continue to pursue all those who threaten the peace and security of law-abiding citizens while ensuring a safe and secure environment for socio-economic activities to flourish throughout the region,” the statement added.
