Troops have arrested a wanted commander of a kidnapping syndicate in Enugu State and recovered a cache of weapons during a joint intelligence operation.
The suspect was picked up by soldiers of the 82 Division of the Nigerian Army, operating under the Joint Task Force South East, Operation UDO KA, alongside operatives of the Department of State Services.
In a statement on Monday, Acting Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, 82 Division, Lt. Col. Olabisi Olalekan Ayeni, said the arrest followed weeks of tracking the gang behind the abduction of two persons in Udi Local Government Area on August 2, 2026.
According to him, the operation in Gariki General Area earlier led to the killing of one syndicate member and the arrest of another. Information obtained from that suspect pointed investigators to the fleeing commander and where the group hid its weapons.
“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,” Ayeni stated.
Army sources said initial findings link the commander to multiple kidnapping operations across the South-East and North-Central zones.
Based on further leads from the suspects, troops moved to Umuchingu Ujenike Forest where the gang had buried its arms. The sweep yielded four AK-47 rifles, seven AK-47 magazines, and 133 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition.
The arrested commander is currently being interrogated to help troops track down other members of the network and their collaborators.
The Army described the operation as proof that intelligence-driven joint operations are working to break criminal networks and cut off their access to weapons and hideouts.
“Operation UDO KA will continue to work with other security agencies to sustain pressure on criminal elements across the South-East,” Ayeni added.
He assured that troops “will continue to pursue all those who threaten the peace and security of law-abiding citizens” to ensure a safe environment for business and daily activities in the region.
