Troops from the 82 Division/Joint Task Force South East, as part of Operation UDO KA, in collaboration with the Department of State Services (DSS), have successfully apprehended a suspected leader of a kidnapping group in Enugu State.
The operation resulted in the recovery of four AK-47 rifles, seven magazines, and 133 rounds of 7.62mm Special ammunition from a hideout in the forest allegedly used by the group.
Lt. Col. Olabisi Olalekan Ayeni, Acting Deputy Director of Army Public Relations for the 82 Division, shared this information in a statement on Monday.
According to Ayeni, the suspect was detained during an intelligence-driven operation in the Gariki General Area of Enugu as troops intensified efforts to dismantle a kidnapping group suspected of abducting two individuals in Udi Local Government Area on August 2.
Ayeni noted that the operation was preceded by an earlier incident where troops neutralized one member of the group and captured another.
He mentioned that information obtained from the detained suspect helped security forces to identify the fugitive leader and initiate a manhunt.
Responding promptly to the intelligence, troops intensified their pursuit, which led to the tracking, interception, and arrest of the fleeing commander as he tried to escape from Enugu State.
Preliminary investigations have linked the suspect to multiple kidnapping activities across the South-East and North-Central regions.
The operation also resulted in the confiscation of US$1,000, ₦785,900, and other incriminating materials from the suspect.
Further intelligence gathered by the troops reportedly directed them to Umuchingu Ujenike Forest, where the group had allegedly hidden their weapons.
During a subsequent operation, troops successfully retrieved four AK-47 rifles, seven AK-47 magazines, and 133 rounds of 7.62mm Special ammunition from the forest hideout.
The suspect remains in custody for further questioning, which is expected to support ongoing efforts to identify and capture additional members of the group and their accomplices.
Operation UDO KA will continue collaborating with other security agencies to maintain operations against criminal elements throughout the South-East.
