Udi Church Kidnapping: Suspected Kidnap Syndicate Commander, Accomplice Arrested in Enugu

The suspected masterminds behind the abduction of two persons in Udi Local Government Area of Enugu State have been arrested, following a coordinated intelligence-led operation by troops of the 82 Division/Joint Task Force South East, Operation UDO KA, in collaboration with operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS).

The Nigerian Army, in a statement issued on Monday, August 10, 2026, by the Acting Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, 82 Division, Lieutenant Colonel Olabisi Olalekan Ayeni, said troops arrested a notorious commander of a kidnapping syndicate linked to the August 2 abduction in Udi.

The suspect was apprehended in the Gariki General Area of Enugu State after security operatives intensified their manhunt for members of the syndicate allegedly responsible for the kidnapping.

According to the Army, the latest breakthrough followed an earlier operation in which troops neutralised one member of the syndicate and arrested another suspect. Information obtained during the subsequent interrogation reportedly provided critical intelligence that led security operatives to identify the fleeing commander and uncover the group's weapons cache.

Acting on the intelligence, troops tracked and intercepted the suspected syndicate commander as he attempted to flee Enugu State.

Preliminary investigations, the Army said, indicate that the arrested suspect is linked to several kidnapping operations across the South East and North Central regions of Nigeria.

Items recovered from the suspect included US$1,000, ₦785,900 in cash and other incriminating materials.

Further exploitation of intelligence obtained from the arrested suspects subsequently led security operatives to the Umuchingu Ujenike Forest, where members of the syndicate had allegedly concealed their weapons.

During the follow-up operation, troops recovered four AK-47 rifles, seven AK-47 magazines and 133 rounds of 7.62mm Special ammunition from the forest hideout.

The Army described the operation as a major breakthrough in efforts to dismantle organised kidnapping networks operating in the South East, noting that the arrests and recovery of the weapons would further assist ongoing investigations and follow-up operations.

The arrested syndicate commander is currently undergoing further interrogation, with the military saying the process is expected to yield additional intelligence that could lead to the arrest of other members of the criminal network and their collaborators.

The Joint Task Force, Operation UDO KA, in collaboration with other security agencies, also reaffirmed its commitment to sustaining intelligence-driven operations against criminal elements and ensuring the safety of residents across the South East.