Troops of the 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 in Enugu State.
The operation, described as a major intelligence-led breakthrough, was conducted in the Gariki General Area of the state following sustained efforts to dismantle a criminal network linked to the abduction of two persons in Udi Local Government Area on August 2, 2026.
The Army said the suspect was tracked and arrested as he attempted to flee Enugu State after troops obtained vital intelligence from an earlier operation in which one member of the syndicate was neutralised and another apprehended.
According to a statement made available to The News Chronicle by the Acting Deputy Director Army Public Relations, 82 Division, Lieutenant Colonel Olabisi Olalekan Ayeni, the arrested suspect provided critical information that led security operatives to identify the fleeing commander and locate the syndicate’s concealed weapons cache.
“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.
Preliminary investigations indicate that the suspect is linked to several kidnapping operations across the South-East and North-Central regions.
Items recovered from him included US$1,000, ₦785,900 in cash and other incriminating materials.
Further exploitation of intelligence from the arrested suspects subsequently led troops to Umuchingu Ujenike Forest, where the syndicate had reportedly concealed its weapons.
The troops recovered four AK-47 rifles, seven AK-47 magazines and 133 rounds of 7.62mm Special ammunition from the forest hideout.
The Army said the operation underscored the effectiveness of intelligence-driven collaboration among security agencies in disrupting organised criminal networks, denying them access to weapons and dismantling their safe havens.
The arrested syndicate commander is currently undergoing further interrogation, with security operatives expected to use the information obtained to track other members of the criminal network and their collaborators.
The Joint Task Force, Operation UDO KA, said it would sustain aggressive, intelligence-led operations against criminal elements across the South-East, while continuing to pursue individuals threatening the peace and security of law-abiding citizens.
The force also reaffirmed its commitment to creating a safe and secure environment for socio-economic activities to thrive across the region.
