Troops of the 82 Division/Joint Task Force South East, Operation UDO KA, in collaboration with the Department of State Services (DSS), have arrested a suspected commander of a kidnapping syndicate in Enugu State.
The operation also resulted in the recovery of four AK-47 rifles, seven magazines and 133 rounds of 7.62mm Special ammunition from a forest hideout allegedly used by the syndicate.
The Acting Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, 82 Division, Lt. Col. Olabisi Olalekan Ayeni, disclosed this in a statement on Monday.
Ayeni said the suspect was apprehended during an intelligence-led operation in the Gariki General Area of Enugu as troops intensified efforts to dismantle a kidnapping syndicate allegedly involved in the abduction of two people in Udi Local Government Area on August 2.
He said the operation followed an earlier encounter in which troops “neutralised one member of the syndicate and apprehended another.”
According to the Army spokesperson, information obtained from the arrested suspect helped security operatives identify the fleeing commander and commence a manhunt for him.
“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,” the statement said.
The Army said preliminary investigations had established links between the suspect and several kidnapping incidents across the South-East and North-Central regions.
Security operatives also recovered US$1,000, ₦785,900 and other items described as incriminating from the suspect.
Further intelligence reportedly led troops to the Umuchingu Ujenike Forest, where members of the syndicate were allegedly keeping 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,” the statement said.
The Army said the suspect remained in custody for further interrogation, adding that information obtained from the investigation would support efforts to identify and arrest other members of the syndicate and their collaborators.
It further stated that Operation UDO KA would continue collaborating with other security agencies to sustain operations against criminal groups across the South-East.