The Department of State Services (DSS) has arraigned five suspects allegedly involved in the abduction of 20 prospective National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members and a civilian along the Owerri–Onitsha Expressway in Imo State.
The suspects were brought before the Justice Oputa State High Court in Owerri, the state capital, following their arrest during intelligence-led operations in Rivers and Abia states.
The victims were kidnapped by gunmen near Umunoha in Mbaitoli Local Government Area of Imo State on October 1, 2026, while travelling from Ibadan, Oyo State, to their assigned NYSC orientation camps in Abia and Akwa Ibom states.
The incident triggered a security operation aimed at rescuing the victims and apprehending those responsible for the abduction.
On October 7, security operatives rescued all 20 prospective corps members and the civilian from the Amakohia-Ubi forest in Owerri West Local Government Area. Following their rescue, the victims received medical attention at the DSS hospital in Owerri.
Five Suspects Arrested in Rivers and Abia
The DSS subsequently arrested five suspects during intelligence-led operations carried out between October 10 and 14 in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, and Aba, Abia State.
The operations involved a joint security team led by the DSS, working alongside the military, police and other security operatives.
Three additional suspects reportedly escaped with gunshot wounds during the security operations. Authorities have since launched a manhunt to track them down and apprehend other members of the suspected kidnapping syndicate who remain at large.
The arraignment of the five arrested suspects marks another stage in the investigation into the abduction, as the prosecution begins proceedings against them.
