Troops of the Nigerian Army have arrested a suspected kidnap syndicate commander and recovered firearms and ammunition during operations in Udi Local Government Area of Enugu State.
An operational report made available on Monday said troops of the 82 Division Garrison and 103 Battalion, working with a Department of State Services tracking team, arrested Babuga Abubakar Usman, who was described as a suspected commander of the syndicate.
The report said troops also recovered four AK-47 rifles, seven magazines and 133 rounds of ammunition from a suspected arms hideout in a forest in Udi. The operation followed information obtained from previously arrested suspects, according to the Army.
Usman, a native of Kebbi State, was reportedly arrested while attempting to leave Enugu. The Army said $1,000 and 785,900 naira were also recovered from him, while investigations are ongoing to obtain information that could lead to other members of the syndicate.
The Army said the suspected criminal network had been operating across parts of the South-East and North-Central regions. It added that the latest operations followed the rescue of two kidnapped victims and the arrest of other suspected members and a logistics supplier.
The military said the operations had disrupted the syndicate’s ability to access weapons and ammunition, adding that troops would continue efforts to identify and apprehend other members of the network.
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