The Department of State Services (DSS) has arraigned five suspects allegedly involved in the abduction of 20 prospective National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members in Imo State.
Drivetvnews gathered that the suspects were arraigned on Tuesday following their arrest during intelligence-led operations conducted between October 10 and 14, 2026, in Rivers and Abia states.
The arrests followed investigations into the abduction of the prospective corps members, who were travelling through Imo State on their way to their designated orientation camps when armed men kidnapped them.
The incident occurred on October 1 along the Owerri–Onitsha Expressway, during Nigeria’s 66th Independence Day celebrations, as the victims travelled to camps in Abia and Akwa Ibom states.
On October 16, SaharaReporters reported that security operatives drawn from the DSS, military and police had arrested five suspected members of the criminal gang allegedly responsible for the abduction.
Three other suspects reportedly escaped with varying degrees of gunshot injuries during the security operations in Rivers and Abia states.
According to security sources, the operations took place in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, and Aba South Local Government Area of Abia State.
The 20 victims were rescued on October 7 during a joint security operation at Amakohia Ubi Village in Imo State.
A security source described the arrests as a significant breakthrough, noting that security agencies had maintained a manhunt for the suspected kidnappers since the incident.
“This is a huge sigh of relief. Security agencies have been on a manhunt for the abductors, and we are elated that they have been captured. We strongly believe they will be charged to court by DSS and the corps members will get justice,” the source said.
The source expressed optimism that the arrests would strengthen efforts to prosecute those allegedly responsible and secure justice for the victims.
The abduction during the Independence Day celebrations had raised concerns about the safety of travellers and NYSC members using major highways.
