- DSS arraigns five suspects over the abduction of 20 prospective National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members in Imo State.
- The suspects were arrested during intelligence-led operations in Rivers and Abia states between October 10 and 14, 2026.
- The victims were abducted along the Owerri-Onitsha Expressway on October 1 and rescued six days later.
The Department of State Services (DSS) has arraigned five suspects allegedly involved in the kidnapping of 20 prospective National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members and another passenger in Imo State.
The suspects were brought before the Justice Oputa State High Court in Owerri, the state capital, on Tuesday, October 20, following their arrest during intelligence-led security operations in Rivers and Abia states.
Newsflash reported that the suspects are Mohammed Ali, Usman Aliyu, Babangida Aliyu, Ibrahim Jiji and Aminu Haliru.
DSS arraigns five suspects over NYSC members’ abduction
The arraignment followed investigations into the abduction of 20 prospective NYSC members and another passenger along the Owerri-Onitsha Expressway in Imo State.
The suspects were arrested between October 10 and 14 during operations conducted in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, and Aba South Local Government Area of Abia State. DSS arraigns
Three other suspected members of the gang reportedly escaped during the operations with varying degrees of gunshot injuries.
The arrests came after security agencies launched efforts to track down those allegedly responsible for the abduction.
How 20 NYSC members were kidnapped in Imo
The 20 prospective corps members were abducted in the early hours of October 1, 2026, while travelling from Ibadan, Oyo State, to their designated NYSC orientation camps in Abia and Akwa Ibom states.
Gunmen, as widely reporterd, attacked two 18-seater buses conveying the passengers near Umunoha in Mbaitoli Local Government Area of Imo State and took the victims into captivity.
The incident triggered a search-and-rescue operation involving security agencies.
On October 7, the 20 prospective corps members and the other passenger were rescued during a joint security operation at Amakohia-Ubi Village in Owerri West Local Government Area of Imo State. DSS Arraigns
The rescued victims were subsequently taken to the DSS hospital in Owerri for medical attention and necessary checks.
Meanwhile, Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the National Democratic Party (NDC), has said his message was twisted by political opponents following the backlash over his comments urging Nigerians abroad to reconsider requests for financial assistance from relatives back home.
The former Anambra State governor made the clarification in a statement titled “My Message Has Been Twisted”, which he shared on his X account on Tuesday, October 20, 2026. He insisted that he never asked Nigerians in the diaspora to abandon their loved ones.
Peter Obi appreciates Nigerians abroad
Peter Obi said he deeply appreciated Nigerians living abroad who worked hard and made sacrifices to support their families in the country.
According to him, money sent home by Nigerians in the diaspora helps families pay school fees, hospital bills, rent and feeding expenses.
He added that their sacrifices and patriotism deserved respect, stressing that his message was not intended to discourage them from helping their loved ones.
“I never asked them to abandon their loved ones. My concern is that Nigeria should not remain a country where millions depend on relatives abroad for basic survival,” Obi said.
His clarification followed reactions to his remarks at a town hall meeting with Nigerians in Manchester, United Kingdom, where he urged those abroad to tell relatives requesting money to vote for productive leaders.
Obi explains his message on diaspora remittances
The former governor said his concern was that millions of Nigerians had to depend on relatives abroad to meet their basic needs.
Peter Obi argued that the country should create an environment where citizens could access employment, affordable healthcare, quality education and economic opportunities.
“Our goal must be to build a nation that provides jobs, affordable healthcare, quality education, and economic opportunities for its citizens,” he said.
He maintained that Nigeria needed to address the conditions forcing many families to depend on financial assistance from relatives living overseas.
Peter Obi accuses political opponents of twisting his message about Nigerians abroad
Peter Obi also accused his political opponents of distorting his comments, insisting that he was advocating a country that could provide for its citizens. Nigerians Abroad. Click here to read more.
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