A joint mission involving the 82 Division of the Nigerian Army, the Joint Task Force South East, Operation UDO KA, and the Department of State Services has successfully detained a high-ranking kidnapping suspect. Lt. Col. Olabisi Ayeni, the Acting Deputy Director of Army Public Relations, confirmed that the operation took place in the Gariki region of Enugu State.
This arrest stems from an investigation into the August 2, 2026, abduction of two individuals in the Udi Local Government Area. Authorities were able to track the suspect after intelligence was gathered during a previous raid that resulted in the death of one gang member and the capture of another. The apprehended commander was intercepted while attempting to flee the state.
Subsequent information provided by the suspect allowed troops to locate a hidden cache within the Umuchingu Ujenike Forest. Soldiers retrieved four AK-47 rifles, seven magazines, and 133 rounds of ammunition at the site. Officials stated that the suspect is connected to multiple kidnapping incidents spanning both the South-East and North-Central regions of the country. Interrogations are ongoing to help security forces identify and capture other members of the criminal network. The military reaffirmed its commitment to collaborating with other security agencies to dismantle such groups and ensure public safety across the region.
