Security operatives have arrested five suspected members of a gang allegedly involved in the abduction of 20 National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members in Imo State.
According to NTA, operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS), the military and the police apprehended the suspects during intelligence-led operations in Rivers and Abia states between 10 and 14 October.
The report added that three other suspects escaped during the operations with varying degrees of injuries.
TheCable had reported that the corps members were abducted in the early hours of 1 October after gunmen attacked two 18-seater buses conveying passengers from Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, and took them into the bush.
A video circulated on X showed the victims travelling to Akwa Ibom and Abia states in buses bearing the Abia State Government logo when the attackers intercepted the vehicles.
Henry Okoye, the police spokesperson in Imo, said the incident occurred at about 6:30 am, adding that 10 victims were rescued immediately.
The kidnappers subsequently contacted the corps members’ parents, demanding a ransom of N1 billion and giving them 24 hours to secure their children’s release.
The abductors later reduced the demand to N5 million per person, bringing the total ransom sought for the 20 victims to N100 million.
On 7 October, Anietie Iniedu, spokesperson for the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), announced that a joint team of DSS, military and police operatives had rescued the corps members.
Iniedu said the victims were rescued in Amakohia Ubi village, Imo State, following sustained search-and-rescue operations.
However, Alirat Wahab, the mother of one of the rescued corps members, told News Central Television in an interview that N6 million had been paid to secure her son’s release, contradicting the account given by security agencies.
Alirat and her husband, Obasanjo, later said the money their family contributed towards the ransom had been refunded.