Operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS), the military and police have arrested five suspected members of a criminal gang allegedly responsible for abducting 20 prospective National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members in Imo State.
The suspects were arrested during intelligence-led operations conducted in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, and Aba South Local Government Area of Abia State between October 10 and 14.
Five other suspected gang members reportedly escaped with gunshot injuries, prompting security agencies to intensify efforts to track them down.
The operations mark a major breakthrough in the investigation into the abduction of the prospective corps members, who were travelling to their assigned orientation camps in Abia and Akwa Ibom states when armed men seized them along the Owerri–Onitsha Expressway.
The victims were later rescued during a joint security operation at Amakohia Ubi village in Imo State.
A security source described the arrests as a relief, saying security agencies had sustained a manhunt for the suspects.
“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,” the source said.
The source expressed confidence that the suspects would face prosecution and that the victims would get justice.
