Troops of Operation UDO KA have arrested a wanted kidnapping syndicate commander in Enugu State and recovered a cache of arms, ammunition and cash during a coordinated raid.
The operation was carried out by 82 Division/Joint Task Force South East in collaboration with operatives of the Department of State Services, DSS.
According to the Army, the arrest on Sunday followed an intelligence-led manhunt in the Gariki area of Enugu. The commander had been on the run after troops linked him to the abduction of two persons in Udi Local Government Area on August 2, 2026.
The breakthrough came after an earlier operation where troops killed one member of the syndicate and arrested another. Information extracted from that suspect led troops to the fleeing commander and to the group’s hidden arms dump.
Acting on the lead, troops tracked and intercepted the commander as he attempted to escape from Enugu State.
Items recovered from him include $1,000, ₦785,900 in cash and other incriminating materials.
Further exploitation of intelligence led troops to Umuchingu Ujenike Forest. There, they recovered four AK-47 rifles, seven AK-47 magazines and 133 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition concealed by the syndicate.
Preliminary investigations show the suspect is linked to multiple kidnappings across the South East and North Central regions.
The arrested commander is currently undergoing interrogation to aid further operations against other members and collaborators of the network.
“The success of this operation again proves that intelligence-driven joint operations are effective in dismantling criminal networks, apprehending fugitives and denying them weapons and safe havens,” the Army said in a statement signed by Lt. Col. Olabisi Olalekan Ayeni, Acting Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, 82 Division.
Operation UDO KA said it remains committed to sustaining aggressive operations across the South East to ensure a safe environment for socio-economic activities.
