In a dramatic breakthrough against organised crime, Nigerian Army troops of the 82 Division, working under the Joint Task Force South East, Operation UDO KA, have captured a notorious kidnapping syndicate commander in Enugu State.
The arrest, carried out in the Gariki General Area, followed weeks of intelligence-led pursuit after the abduction of two persons in Udi Local Government Area on August 2. Earlier raids had already neutralised one gang member. They led to the arrest of another, whose interrogation provided the crucial lead that exposed the commander’s whereabouts and the gang’s hidden weapons.
Lieutenant Colonel Olabisi Olalekan Ayeni, Acting Deputy Director of Army Public Relations, hailed the operation as a major success. “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,” Ayeni said. He added that investigations revealed the suspect’s involvement in “several kidnapping activities across the South East and North Central regions.”
Recovered from the suspect were US$1,000, ₦785,900 in cash, and other incriminating materials. A follow-up operation in Umuchingu Ujenike Forest uncovered four AK-47 rifles, seven magazines, and 133 rounds of 7.62mm Special ammunition concealed in a hideout.
Ayeni underscored the broader impact of the operation: “The successful operations further demonstrate 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 commander is now undergoing interrogation, with security forces vowing to track down other members of the syndicate and their collaborators. The Joint Task Force pledged to sustain aggressive, intelligence-led operations across the South East.
“The troops will continue to pursue all those who threaten the peace and security of law-abiding citizens while ensuring a safe and secure environment for socio-economic activities to flourish throughout the region,” Ayeni affirmed.
