Security operatives have arrested five suspected members of the gang linked to the abduction of 20 National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members in Imo State.
Drivetvnews gathered that the suspects were arrested during intelligence-led operations conducted by personnel of the Department of State Services (DSS), the military and the police in Rivers and Abia states between October 10 and 14, according to a report by the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA).
Three other suspects reportedly escaped during the operations with varying degrees of injuries.
The 20 corps members were abducted in the early hours of October 1 when gunmen intercepted two 18-seater buses conveying passengers from Ibadan, Oyo State, and took them into the bush.
The victims were travelling to Akwa Ibom and Abia states in buses bearing the Abia State Government logo when the attackers struck, according to a video circulated on X.
The Imo State Police Public Relations Officer, Henry Okoye, said the incident occurred at about 6:30 a.m., adding that 10 victims were rescued shortly after the attack.
The kidnappers subsequently contacted the victims’ parents and demanded a ransom of ₦1 billion, giving them 24 hours to secure their release.
The gang later reduced its demand to ₦5 million per victim, bringing the total ransom to ₦100 million for all 20 corps members.
On October 7, the Nigeria Police Force spokesperson, Anietie Iniedu, announced that a joint team of DSS, military and police operatives had rescued the corps members following sustained search-and-rescue operations in Amakohia Ubi village, Imo State.
However, Alirat Wahab, the mother of one of the rescued corps members, later told News Central Television that her family paid ₦6 million to secure her son’s release, contradicting the security agencies’ account of the rescue.
Wahab and her husband, Obasanjo, subsequently disclosed that the money their family contributed towards the ransom had been refunded.
