The Department of State Services (DSS) has arraigned five suspects over their alleged involvement in the abduction of 20 prospective members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in Imo State.
The suspects were brought before a court in Imo State on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, following their arrest during intelligence-led operations conducted by security operatives in Rivers and Abia states between October 10 and 14.
The abduction occurred on October 1, when armed men reportedly intercepted vehicles conveying the prospective corps members along the Owerri–Onitsha Expressway near Umunoha in Mbaitoli Local Government Area of Imo State. The victims were travelling from Ibadan, Oyo State, to their assigned NYSC orientation camps in Abia and Akwa Ibom states.
The incident triggered a coordinated search-and-rescue operation involving security agencies. The abducted prospective corps members were rescued on October 7 at Amakohia-Ubi in Owerri West Local Government Area.
The subsequent intelligence-led operations led to the arrest of five suspects allegedly linked to the criminal gang. Three other suspected members reportedly escaped during the operations with gunshot injuries, prompting further efforts to track them down.
The arraignment represents a significant development in the investigation into the abduction, which raised concerns about the safety of young Nigerians travelling to participate in the national service programme.
The suspects remain entitled to the presumption of innocence, and the allegations against them must be established through the judicial process.