The Department of State Services (DSS) has arraigned five suspected members of a criminal gang allegedly responsible for the abduction of 20 prospective National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members in Imo State.
The suspects were arrested during intelligence-led operations conducted by operatives of the DSS, the military and the police in Rivers and Abia states between October 10 and 14.
Reports has it that the operations were carried out in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, and Aba South Local Government Area of Abia State.
Three other suspected members of the gang reportedly escaped during the operations with varying degrees of gunshot injuries, prompting a manhunt for them.
The 20 prospective corps members were abducted by armed men along the Owerri–Onitsha Expressway in Imo State on October 1, 2026, while travelling to their assigned orientation camps in Abia and Akwa Ibom states.
The victims were rescued on October 7 during a joint security operation at Amakohia Ubi Village in Imo State.