Military, DSS, police arrest 5 suspects over abduction of 20 Corps members

Operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS), the army and police have arrested 5 suspected members of a prison gang allegedly chargeable for the kidnapping of 20 potential National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members in Imo State on Nigeria’s 66th Independence Day.

Five different suspected members of the gang, nevertheless, escaped with gunshot accidents prompting an enormous manhunt for them.

The suspects have been apprehended throughout a collection of intelligence-led operations carried out at completely different places in Rivers and Abia States.

However, in the midst of the operation, three different suspects escaped with various levels of harm.

Security sources disclosed that the operations have been carried out between October 10 and 14 in Port Harcourt, Rivers State and Aba South LGA. Abia State.

Recall that 20 NYSC members have been kidnapped by armed males alongside Owerri–Onitsha Expressway in Imo State on October 1, 2026, as they travelled to their assigned orientation camps in Abia and Akwa Ibom states.

The victims have been subsequently rescued on October 7, 2026, throughout a joint safety operation at Amakohia Ubi Village.

The string of operations mark a major breakthrough in efforts to trace down the perpetrators, dismantle the prison community allegedly chargeable for the kidnapping and convey these concerned to justice.

A safety supply described the event as a significant aid, noting that safety companies had sustained a wide-ranging manhunt for the abductors.

“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 supply stated.