The Department of State Services (DSS) has arraigned five suspects allegedly linked to the abduction of 20 prospective National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members and a civilian along the Owerri–Onitsha Expressway in Imo State.

The suspects were brought before the Justice Oputa State High Court in Owerri, the state capital, following their arrest during intelligence-led operations in Rivers and Abia states.

The victims were abducted by gunmen near Umunoha in Mbaitoli Local Government Area on October 1, 2026, while travelling from Ibadan, Oyo State, to their assigned NYSC orientation camps in Abia and Akwa Ibom states.

The incident triggered a security operation to locate the victims and apprehend those responsible.

On October 7, security operatives rescued the 20 prospective corps members and the civilian from the Amakohia-Ubi forest in Owerri West Local Government Area.

The victims subsequently received medical attention at the DSS hospital in Owerri.

Details Later..