Five suspected members of a criminal gang allegedly responsible for the kidnapping of twenty potential National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members in Imo State on Nigeria's 66th Independence Day have been detained by agents of the Department of State Services (DSS), the military, and the police.

However, five additional suspected gang members escaped with gunshot wounds, leading to a massive manhunt for them.

The suspects were captured at various locations in Rivers and Abia States as part of a series of intelligence-led operations. Three additional suspects, however, managed to flee the operation with varying degrees of injuries.

According to security sources, the operations took place in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, and Aba South LGA between October 10 and 14. State of Abia.

Remember that on October 1, 2026, while traveling to their designated orientation camps in Abia and Akwa Ibom states, twenty NYSC members were kidnaped by armed men along the Owerri-Onitsha Expressway in Imo State.

On October 7, 2026, a joint security operation at Amakohia Ubi Village resulted in the victims' rescue.

Source