Security operatives comprising the military, Department of State Services (DSS) and the Nigeria Police Force have arrested five suspects allegedly linked to the abduction of prospective National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members in Imo State.

The arrests followed coordinated security operations launched after gunmen attacked two buses conveying prospective corps members and other passengers along the Owerri-Onitsha Road near Umunoha in Mbaitoli Local Government Area of Imo State on October 1, 2026.

The victims were travelling from Ibadan, Oyo State, to their respective NYSC orientation camps in the South-East and South-South when they were intercepted by the attackers.

The incident triggered a joint operation involving security agencies to locate the abducted passengers, secure their release and track down those responsible.

Twenty prospective corps members and another civilian were subsequently freed during an intelligence-led operation involving the military, DSS, police and other security agencies.

The victims were rescued on October 7 at Amakohia-Ubi Village in Imo State and taken for medical assessment and necessary care.

The operation involved sustained search-and-rescue efforts as security personnel worked to locate the victims and overcome reported challenges around the suspected kidnappers’ hideout.

The abduction had caused anxiety among the victims’ families, particularly after reports emerged that the kidnappers were demanding ransom for their release.

Following the rescue, security agencies continued efforts to identify and apprehend individuals suspected of participating in the crime.

The arrest of the five suspects represents a further development in the investigation, as authorities seek to establish their alleged roles in the abduction and determine whether other individuals were involved.

Security agencies have maintained that investigations and operations would continue to ensure that anyone found culpable is brought to justice.