Troops of 82 Operation Udo Ka in collaboration with operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) have arrested a notorious kidnapping syndicate commander and also recovered four AK-47 rifles, seven magazines and 133 rounds of 7.62mm Special ammunition from a forest hideout in Enugu State.
Acting Deputy Director Army Public Relations, 82 Division Nigerian Army, Lt-Col. Olabisi Ayeni in a statement issued Monday said the suspect was apprehended during a coordinated intelligence-led operation in the Gariki General Area of Enugu State.
TmHis arress, he explained, followed sustained efforts to dismantle the criminal syndicate responsible for the abduction of two persons in Udi Local Government Area on 2 August 2026.
Ayeni stressed that the arrest followed an earlier operation in which troops neutralised one member of the syndicate and apprehended another.
He explained that 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.
Ayeni added: “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.
“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 arrested suspects led troops to Umuchingu Ujenike Forest, where members of the syndicate had concealed their weapons.
“During the follow-up operation troops successfully recovered four AK-47 rifles, seven AK-47 magazines and 133 rounds of 7.62mm Special ammunition from the forest hideout.”
Ayeni said the successful operations further 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.
He stated that 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.