OWERRI — Five suspected members of the gang that kidnapped 20 prospective members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) have been arrested in a joint operation by the Department of State Services, the military and the police, security sources told Vanguard. The victims were abducted on October 1, 2026, Nigeria's 66th Independence Day, on the Owerri-Onitsha Expressway in Imo State while travelling to orientation camps in Abia and Akwa Ibom states. They were rescued on October 7 during a joint operation at Amakohia Ubi village. According to the sources, the suspects were arrested between October 10 and 14 in intelligence-led operations in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, and Aba South Local Government Area of Abia State. Other members of the gang are still at large, and security agencies have launched a manhunt to track them down. A security source said the suspects were expected to be charged to court by the DSS once investigations are concluded. No official statement on the arrests had been issued at the time of filing. The abduction caused widespread concern about the safety of corps members travelling to orientation camps, and renewed calls for better protection on major highways in the South East.