The Department of State Services (DSS) has arraigned five suspects over the abduction of 20 prospective NYSC members in Imo State.
The suspects appeared before the Justice Oputa State High Court in Owerri following their arrests in Rivers and Abia states.
Their arraignment follows a security operation that rescued the victims and led to the arrest of suspected members of the kidnapping gang.
The victims included 20 prospective corps members and a civilian who were travelling to their assigned orientation camps.
The victims were kidnapped by gunmen on October 1, 2026, near Umunoha in Mbaitoli Local Government Area. They were travelling from Ibadan, Oyo State, to orientation camps in Abia and Akwa Ibom states.
The incident triggered a security operation to locate the victims and arrest those responsible.
On October 7, security operatives rescued all 21 victims from the Amakohia-Ubi forest in Owerri West Local Government Area. They were later taken to the DSS hospital in Owerri for medical care.
Following the rescue, DSS operatives arrested five suspected members of the kidnapping syndicate during coordinated operations between October 10 and 14.
The operations took place in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, and Aba, Abia State.
The DSS worked with the military, police and other security agencies during the exercise.
However, three other suspects reportedly escaped with gunshot wounds during the operations.
Security operatives are continuing efforts to track them and other suspected members of the gang.
