The Department of State Services (DSS) has arraigned five suspects allegedly responsible for the abduction of 20 prospective National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members and one civilian in Imo State.
The incident took place on October 1, 2026, near Umunoha in the Mbaitoli Local Government Area of Imo State.
Channels TV reported that the suspects were brought before the Justice Oputa State High Court in Owerri, the state capital, on Tuesday.
NTA News, however, reported on Tuesday through its Facebook page that the five arraigned suspects are Ibrahim Jiji, Aminu Haliru, Mohammed Ali, Usman Aliyu, and Babangida Aliyu.
The suspects were arrested during a series of intelligence-led operations carried out at various locations in Rivers and Abia states. During the operation, however, three other suspects escaped with varying degrees of injury.
Security sources revealed that the operations were conducted between October 10 and 14 in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, and in Aba South Local Government Area of Abia State.
The victims were later rescued on October 7, 2026, during a joint security operation at Amakohia Ubi Village.
This series of operations represents a significant breakthrough in efforts to track down the perpetrators, dismantle the criminal network allegedly behind the abduction, and bring those involved to justice.
A security source described the development as a major relief, noting that security agencies had maintained an extensive 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.
