Troops of the 82 Division/Joint Task Force South East, Operation UDO KA, working alongside operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS), have arrested a suspected commander of a notorious kidnapping syndicate in Enugu State.
The operation also led to the recovery of four AK-47 rifles, seven magazines and 133 rounds of 7.62mm Special ammunition reportedly concealed in a forest hideout.
The security operation was conducted in the Gariki General Area of Enugu State following sustained intelligence gathering aimed at dismantling a criminal network allegedly connected to the abduction of two persons in Udi Local Government Area on August 2, 2026.
In a statement issued on Monday, the Acting Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, 82 Division Nigerian Army, Lieutenant Colonel Olabisi Olalekan Ayeni, said the latest arrest followed an earlier operation in which troops reportedly neutralised one suspected member of the syndicate and arrested another suspect.
According to the Army, information obtained from the arrested suspect proved instrumental in identifying the fleeing commander and locating the group’s concealed weapons.
Acting on the intelligence, security operatives intensified their search and eventually intercepted the suspected commander while he was allegedly attempting to flee Enugu State.
The Army said preliminary investigations suggest that the suspect may have links to several kidnapping operations carried out across parts of the South East and North Central regions.
During the arrest, security operatives reportedly recovered $1,000 and ₦785,900 in cash, alongside other items described by the Army as incriminating materials.
Further intelligence gathered from the suspects subsequently led troops to the Umuchingu Ujenike Forest, where members of the alleged syndicate were believed to have hidden their weapons.
A follow-up operation in the forest resulted in the recovery of four AK-47 rifles, seven AK-47 magazines and 133 rounds of 7.62mm Special ammunition.
The Nigerian Army described the operation as another indication of the effectiveness of intelligence-led collaboration between security agencies in disrupting organised criminal networks, recovering illicit weapons and preventing criminal groups from maintaining operational hideouts.
The arrested suspect is currently undergoing further interrogation. The Army said information obtained during the process could assist security agencies in identifying and apprehending additional members of the syndicate and their alleged collaborators.
Operation UDO KA, in partnership with other security agencies, has also reaffirmed its commitment to sustaining intelligence-driven operations against criminal elements across the South East.
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The military assured residents that troops would continue to pursue individuals and groups threatening the safety of law-abiding citizens, while supporting efforts to create a safer environment for economic and social activities to flourish across the region.
