By Ikugbadi Oluwasegun
Troops of the 82 Division Nigerian Army, under the Joint Task Force operation UDO KA, have extended crime fighting to the forest, arrested a fleeing notorious commander of a kidnapping syndicate in Enugu State.
Olabisi Olalekan, Acting Deputy Director of the Nigerian Army Public Relations of the 82 Division in a statement, indicated that the suspects were arrested during an intelligence-led operation in the Gariki General Area while attempting to flee Enugu State.
The operation leading to the arrest, according to the Nigerian Army, followed the August 2nd abduction of two persons at Udi Local Government Area, where one syndicate was neutralized and another arrested; one leading the commander to the location where the groups cache of arms were recovered.
A search at the Umuchingu forest led to the recovery of four AK-47 rifles , seven magazines, and one hundred and thirty-three rounds of ammunition.
The suspect was also found with the sum of 1000 American dollars, N785,000, as well as other incriminating items.
A preliminary investigation linked the suspect to several kidnapping operations across the South-East and north central, according to the Nigerian Army, while interrogations are ongoing to arrest other members and collaborators.
