Troops of the 82 Division and 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 led to 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, Lieutenant Colonel Olabisi Olalekan Ayeni, disclosed this in a statement on Monday.
According to Ayeni, the suspect was arrested during an intelligence-led operation in the Gariki General Area of Enugu as troops intensified efforts to dismantle a kidnapping syndicate allegedly linked to 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.”
Ayeni said information obtained from the arrested suspect helped security operatives identify the alleged fleeing commander and launch 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 linked the suspect to several kidnapping activities across the South-East and North-Central regions.
It also said US$1,000, N785,900 and other items described as incriminating were recovered from the suspect during the operation.
The Army said further intelligence gathered during the operation led troops to the Umuchingu Ujenike Forest, where the syndicate allegedly concealed its 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 suspect remains in custody for further interrogation, according to the Army.
The military said the investigation would assist security agencies in identifying and apprehending other suspected members of the syndicate and their alleged collaborators.
READ MORE: DSS Releases, Compensates Artisan Cleared Of Oyo Kidnapping
The Army also reaffirmed that Operation UDO KA would continue to collaborate with other security agencies in ongoing operations against criminal elements across the South-East.
The operation comes amid continued security efforts in the region aimed at disrupting kidnapping networks and other criminal activities.
