BREAKING: DSS arraigns five suspects over abduction of 20 corps members in Imo – The Witness Nigeria

The Department of State Services (DSS) has arraigned five suspected members of a criminal gang allegedly responsible for abducting 20 prospective National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members and one civilian in Imo State.

The incident occurred near Umunoha in Mbaitoli Local Government Area of Imo State on October 1, 2026.

According to Channels Television, the suspects were brought before the Justice Oputa State High Court in Owerri, the state capital, on Tuesday.

NTA News also reported on Tuesday via its Facebook page that the five suspects are Ibrahim Jiji, Aminu Haliru, Mohammed Ali, Usman Aliyu and Babangida Aliyu.

The suspects were reportedly apprehended during a series of intelligence-led operations conducted at different locations in Rivers and Abia states. Three other suspects, however, escaped during the operations with varying degrees of injury.

Security sources disclosed that the operations took place between October 10 and 14 in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, and Aba South Local Government Area of Abia State.

The abducted victims were subsequently rescued on October 7, 2026, during a joint security operation at Amakohia Ubi Village.

The arrests mark a significant development in efforts to track down the alleged perpetrators, dismantle the criminal network and bring those responsible for the abduction 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.