Operatives of the Department of State Services, the military, and the police on Friday arrested five suspected members of a criminal gang allegedly responsible for the abduction of 20 National Youth Service Corps members in Imo State on Nigeria’s 66th Independence Day.
The suspects were arrested during a series of intelligence-led operations conducted at different locations in Rivers and Abia states between October 10 and 14, 2026.
Three other suspects reportedly escaped during the operations with varying degrees of gunshot injuries.
Security sources disclosed that the operations were carried out in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, and the Aba South Local Government Area of Abia State.
A DSS source familiar with the development confirmed the arrests to Saturday PUNCH on Friday.
The source disclosed that security operatives were intensifying efforts to arrest other members of the gang, particularly those who escaped with gunshot injuries.
“Five among those responsible for the abduction of the graduates have been arrested in a joint operation carried out by operatives of the DSS, police, and the Army.
“Three of them escaped into the bush with gunshot injuries sustained during the encounter with security operatives, and efforts are ongoing to arrest them,” the source said.
The source added that rounds of ammunition, AK-47 rifles, and an English pistol were recovered from the suspects.
The source, however, remained silent on whether the ransom reportedly paid to secure the release of the victims was recovered.
The 20 prospective corps members were abducted on October 1 along the Owerri-Onitsha Road, near Umunoha in the Mbaitoli Local Government Area of Imo State, while travelling in two commercial buses belonging to Uko Akwa Ibom Motors.
They were heading for Abia and Akwa Ibom states. The kidnappers subsequently demanded N50m per graduate.
The police last Wednesday announced the rescue of the abducted graduates at Amakohia Ubi Village in the Owerri West Local Government Area of Imo State.
The families, however, disputed the police rescue claim, insisting that a ransom was paid to secure their release.