Five Arrested in Connection with Abduction of NYSC Members in Imo State

On October 1, 2026, twenty prospective National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members were kidnapped in Imo State. They were freed on October 7, 2026, following a security operation.

Five suspects, believed to be part of the gang responsible for the abduction, were arrested in a joint operation involving the Department of State Services (DSS), military, and police. The arrests took place in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, and Abia State between October 10 and 14.

According to police, the victims were traveling from Ibadan, Oyo State, to their orientation camps in Abia and Akwa Ibom when gunmen attacked their buses near Umunoha in the Mbaitoli Local Government Area of Imo State.

The police managed to locate the kidnappers’ camp using drone surveillance, but could not approach it immediately due to improvised explosive devices (IEDs) planted in the area. Eventually, security agencies intensified their efforts, leading to the successful rescue of the victims.

Following the rescue, the victims were taken to a DSS hospital in Owerri for medical care. Meanwhile, three other suspects managed to escape with gunshot wounds, and a manhunt is ongoing for them.

The recent arrests are seen as a significant step in dismantling the criminal network involved in the abduction, providing some relief to security agencies who have been actively pursuing the suspects.