DSS arraigns suspects in Imo State NYSC kidnapping amid conflicting reports on numbers

The Department of State Services (DSS) has taken several individuals to court in connection with the kidnapping of twenty National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members and a civilian on the Owerri–Onitsha expressway in Imo State. The abduction occurred in the early hours of 1 October when armed men attacked two 18‑seater buses carrying passengers from Ibadan to NYSC orientation camps in the southeast. The assault took place near Umunoha in Mbaitoli Local Government Area at approximately 6:30 a.m.

According to the Imo State Police, ten of the victims were rescued immediately after the attack, while the remaining victims were taken away. The kidnappers initially demanded a ransom of one billion naira, later reducing the ask to five million naira per person, amounting to a total of one hundred million naira for the twenty corps members. On 7 October, a joint operation involving the DSS, the military and police located the abductees in the Amakohia‑Ubi forest and secured their release. The rescued individuals received medical treatment following the operation.

Family members of the victims reported differing experiences with the ransom negotiations. One mother, Alirat Wahab, told a television outlet that her family paid six million naira for her son's release, a claim that contrasts with the official narrative of a rescue operation. She later stated that the money was returned to her family.

The legal proceedings have been reported with varying details. One source indicates that five suspects were arraigned at the Imo State High Court in Owerri after being arrested in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, and Aba, Abia State, between 10 and 14 October during intelligence‑led operations. Another report mentions that three suspects – identified as Usman Aliyu, Babangida Aliyu and Mohammed Ali – were arraigned before the Mgbidi High Court in Owerri. Both accounts refer to the same security agencies, with the State Security Services (SSS) being another name for the DSS.

During the arrests, three additional suspects reportedly escaped, some sustaining gunshot injuries. Security forces have launched a manhunt to locate these fugitives and any other members of the suspected kidnapping gang.

The case underscores the challenges faced by Nigerian security agencies in combating kidnapping syndicates, especially those targeting NYSC members travelling to orientation camps. Continued investigations and court proceedings are expected to clarify the full extent of involvement and to bring the remaining suspects to justice.