Imo NYSC Abduction: DSS Arrests 5 Suspects in Rivers, Abia
DSS, Military, Police Arrest Five Suspects Over Abduction of 20 NYSC Prospective Corps Members
The Department of State Services (DSS), military and police operatives have arrested five suspected members of a criminal gang allegedly linked to the abduction of 20 prospective National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members in Imo State.
The arrests followed intelligence-led operations conducted between October 10 and 14 in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, and Aba South Local Government Area of Abia State. Three other suspects reportedly escaped with varying degrees of gunshot injuries.
The victims were abducted on October 1 while travelling in two buses from Ibadan, Oyo State, to their orientation camps in Abia and Akwa Ibom states. They were intercepted along the Owerri-Onitsha Expressway and held captive for seven days before being rescued on October 7 during a joint security operation at Amakohia Ubi village in Imo State.
A security source described the arrests as a major breakthrough, expressing hope that the suspects would face prosecution.
“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 to Court by DSS and the corps members will get justice,” the source said.
The kidnappers reportedly initially demanded N1 billion in ransom before reducing the demand to N5 million per victim, amounting to N100 million.
Questions later emerged over whether ransom was paid before the victims’ release. Parents of some of the abducted corps members subsequently confirmed that money contributed by families and their representatives had been refunded, although the circumstances surrounding the payment and refunds remained unclear.
One of the victims’ parents, Obasanjo Wahab, said he could not confirm whether the representatives had successfully delivered the money to the kidnappers.
“The kidnappers had asked for representatives to bring the ransom. Since they could no longer hold the corps members hostage, they let them go,” he said.
He also urged the public to appreciate the Imo State Government’s intervention.
“The money has been returned. We just want to thank Imo for a job well done.”
Security agencies are reportedly continuing efforts to track down the remaining suspects and dismantle the criminal network allegedly responsible for the abduction.
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