Security agencies have arrested five suspected members of the gang behind the kidnapping of 20 prospective National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members in Imo State. Three other suspected gang members reportedly escaped with gunshot wounds, and a manhunt is under way for them.
The arrests were made in a series of intelligence-led operations by the Department of State Services (DSS), the military and the police between October 10 and 14, 2026, in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, and Aba South Local Government Area of Abia State.
A security source described the arrests as “a huge sigh of relief” and said the suspects will be charged to court by the DSS. Their names have not been released.
How the Corps Members Were Abducted
The 20 young graduates were kidnapped on October 1, 2026, when gunmen attacked two buses on the Owerri-Onitsha Expressway in Imo State. The buses were travelling from Ibadan towards the South-East, carrying the prospective corps members to their NYSC orientation camps in Abia and Akwa Ibom States.
The abduction came on Nigeria’s Independence Day and caused widespread alarm among parents and young graduates preparing for national service.
Rescued After Seven Days in Captivity
All 20 victims were rescued on October 7, after seven days in captivity, in a joint operation by the DSS, the military and the police at Amakohia Ubi village in Imo State. Police spokesperson Anietie Iniedu announced the rescue.
Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma praised the security agencies for their quick intervention and said the corps members were rescued unharmed. He also credited cooperation between the Oyo and Imo State governments.
Why Details Were Kept Quiet
Uzodimma explained that the state government deliberately withheld information while the victims were still held. He said releasing too much detail could have put the victims’ lives at risk and compromised the security operation, so the government chose a discreet approach.
The Ransom Question
Parents of the victims have since spoken about ransom demands. According to families who spoke to reporters, the kidnappers first demanded N1 billion, then reportedly reduced it to N5 million per person, about N100 million for all 20 victims.
One mother said her family paid N6 million for her son’s release. Another parent said families chose representatives to negotiate with the kidnappers and deliver the money.
However, the families later said the ransom money had been returned to them. They did not say who refunded it or why. One father said the families did not know whether the money ever reached the kidnappers before the victims were released, and he thanked the Imo State Government for its role.
A Dangerous Road for Travellers
The Owerri-Onitsha Expressway has become notorious for attacks by gunmen and kidnappers, and the abduction renewed concerns about the safety of NYSC members who travel long distances by road to their orientation camps.
The arrest of five suspects is a rare success in a region where kidnapping cases often go unsolved. Security sources say efforts are continuing to track down the three suspects who escaped.
Safety tip for prospective corps members: travel during daylight hours, use registered transport companies where possible, and keep family members informed of your route and expected arrival time.
Sources: ThisDay, AllAfrica, Arise News and Blueprint.