Five suspected members of a criminal gang accused of abducting 20 prospective National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members in Imo State have been arrested in a joint security operation led by the Department of State Services (DSS), in collaboration with the military, police and other security operatives.
The suspects were apprehended in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, and Abia State during intelligence-led operations conducted between October 10 and 14, according to a report by Channels Television.
Three other suspects reportedly escaped with gunshot wounds during the operations, prompting an ongoing manhunt for the fleeing members of the gang.
The arrests followed the abduction of 20 prospective corps members along the Owerri-Onitsha Expressway in Imo State on October 1, 2026, while they were travelling from Ibadan, Oyo State, to their assigned NYSC orientation camps in Abia and Akwa Ibom states.
The gunmen attacked two buses conveying the prospective corps members and other passengers near Umunoha in the Mbaitoli Local Government Area of Imo State.
The victims were rescued on October 7 during a joint security operation at Amakohia-Ubi Village in Owerri West Local Government Area of the state. They were subsequently taken to the DSS hospital in Owerri for medical attention and necessary checks.
During the search-and-rescue operation, the police had said their operatives located the kidnappers' camp through drone surveillance but could not immediately advance because the location was reportedly planted with improvised explosive devices (IEDs). Security agencies later intensified efforts to reach the victims and secure their release.
The latest arrests mark a significant development in efforts to track down those allegedly responsible for the abduction and dismantle the criminal network behind it.
A security source described the arrests as a major relief, saying security agencies had sustained a manhunt for the suspects since the victims regained their freedom.
The development comes as families and corps members continue to raise concerns about the safety of travelling to orientation camps across the country, with many calling for stronger security escort arrangements on major highways.
Source: Channels Television
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