Operatives of the Department of State Services, the military and police on Friday arrested five suspected members of a criminal gang allegedly responsible for the abduction of 20 prospective National Youth Service Corps members in Imo State on Nigeria’s 66th Independence Day.
Three other suspected members of the gang, however, escaped with gunshot injuries, prompting a massive manhunt for them.
The suspects were apprehended during a series of intelligence-led operations conducted at different locations in Rivers and Abia states. However, in the course of the operation, three other suspects escaped with varying degrees of injury.
Security sources disclosed that the operations were carried out between October 10 and 14 in Port Harcourt, Rivers State and Aba South Local Government Area of Abia State.
PUNCH Online reports that 20 NYSC members were abducted by armed men along 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 were subsequently rescued on October 7, 2026, during a joint security operation at Amakohia Ubi Village.
The string of operations marks a significant breakthrough in efforts to track down the perpetrators, dismantle the criminal network allegedly responsible for the abduction and bring those involved to justice.
A security source described the development as a major relief, noting that security agencies 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 in court by DSS and the corps members will get justice,” the source said.
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