Troops of Operation UDO KA, in collaboration with the Department of State Services (DSS), have arrested a fleeing commander of a notorious kidnapping syndicate and recovered a cache of arms from a forest in Enugu State.
The joint operation was disclosed in a statement on Monday by Lieutenant Colonel Olabisi Olalekan Ayeni, Acting Deputy Director of Army Public Relations for the 82 Division of the Nigerian Army.
According to the military, the suspect was intercepted and arrested in the Gariki General Area of Enugu State while attempting to flee the state.
Preliminary investigations link the commander to multiple abductions across the South East and North Central regions.
Items recovered directly from the suspect include $1,000, ₦785,900 in cash, and other incriminating materials.
The intelligence-led operation stems from investigations into the August 2, 2026, abduction of two persons in Udi Local Government Area.
Security forces had previously neutralized one member of the syndicate and arrested another during an earlier encounter.
Interrogation of the first arrested suspect provided critical intelligence that enabled troops to track down the fleeing commander and locate the syndicate’s hidden arsenal.
Following up on information obtained from the suspects, security forces raided a hideout in the Umuchingu Ujenike Forest, where they recovered four AK-47 rifles, seven magazines, and 133 rounds of 7.62mm Special ammunition.
Lieutenant Colonel Ayeni stated that the arrested syndicate commander is undergoing further interrogation to help security forces track down remaining network members and collaborators.
He added that Joint Task Force Operation UDO KA and partner security agencies will sustain aggressive, intelligence-driven operations to ensure peace and security across the South East region.
