The Department of State Services, DSS, has arraigned five suspected members of a criminal gang allegedly responsible for the abduction of 20 prospective National Youth Service Corps members and one civilian in Imo State.

The victims were kidnapped on October first, 2026, near Umunoha in Mbaitoli Local Government Area of the state.

The suspects were arraigned on Tuesday before the Justice Oputa State High Court in Owerri, the Imo State capital.

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

The suspects were reportedly 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.

Three other suspects, however, reportedly escaped during the operations with varying degrees of injury.

The 21 victims were rescued on October 7 during a joint security operation at Amakohia Ubi Village in Imo State.

A security source described the arrest of the suspects as a major breakthrough, noting that security agencies had sustained a manhunt to track down those responsible for the abduction.

The source expressed optimism that the suspects would face justice and that the rescued corps members would receive the justice they deserved.