The Department of State Services on Tuesday brought five suspected members of a kidnapping gang before the Justice Oputa State High Court in Owerri, Imo State, over the abduction of 20 prospective National Youth Service Corps members and one other person.

The victims were seized near Umunoha in Mbaitoli Local Government Area on October 1, 2026.

The suspects were identified as Ibrahim Jiji, Aminu Haliru, Mohammed Ali, Usman Aliyu and Babangida Aliyu.

They were arrested in a series of intelligence-led operations between October 10 and 14 in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, and Aba South Local Government Area of Abia State. Three other suspects escaped with injuries during the operations, security sources said.

The victims had been rescued on October 7 during a joint security operation at Amakohia Ubi Village.

The arrests are seen as a major breakthrough in the search for those behind the abduction and in efforts to dismantle the gang responsible. A security source described the development as a relief after a sustained manhunt.

“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.