82 Division troops arrest fleeing kidnap syndicate commander in Enugu, recover arms
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 recorded another major operational breakthrough with the arrest of a notorious kidnapping syndicate commander and the recovery of four AK-47 rifles, seven magazines and 133 rounds of 7.62mm Special ammunition from a forest hideout in Enugu State.
A statement by the Acting Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, 82 Division, Nigerian Army, Lieutenant Colonel Olabisi Olalekan Ayeni, said the suspect was apprehended during a coordinated, intelligence-led operation in the Gariki general area of Enugu State.
The operation followed sustained efforts to dismantle the criminal syndicate allegedly responsible for the abduction of two persons in Udi Local Government Area on August 2, 2026.
According to the statement, the arrest followed an earlier operation during which troops neutralised one member of the syndicate and apprehended another. Subsequent exploitation of intelligence obtained from the arrested suspect led to the identification of the fleeing syndicate commander and the location of the group’s concealed arms cache.
Acting on the intelligence, troops intensified the manhunt, eventually tracking, intercepting and arresting 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 the suspect included 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 allegedly concealed their weapons.
During the follow-up operation, 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 successful operations further demonstrated 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.
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.
The Joint Task Force, Operation UDO KA, in collaboration with other security agencies, remains committed to sustaining aggressive, intelligence-led operations against criminal elements across the South East.
The troops, the statement added, would continue to pursue those who threaten the peace and security of law-abiding citizens while working to ensure a safe and secure environment for socio-economic activities to flourish.
