Military, DSS, Police Arrest Five Suspects Involved In Imo Corp Members’ Kidnap

By: Zagazola Makama

*Three others escape with gunshot injuries

Operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS), the military and police have arrested five suspected members of a criminal gang allegedly responsible for the abduction of 20 prospective National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members in Imo State on Nigeria’s 66th Independence Day.
Five other suspected members of the gang, however, escaped with gunshot injuries prompting a massive manhunt for them.

The suspects were apprehended during a series of intelligence-led operations conducted at different locations in Rivers and Abia States. However, in the course of the operation, three other suspects escaped with varying degrees of injury.

Security sources disclosed that the operations were carried out between October 10 and 14 in Port Harcourt, Rivers State and Aba South LGA. Abia State.

Recall that 20 NYSC members were abducted by armed men along Owerri–Onitsha Expressway in Imo State on October 1, 2026, as they travelled to their assigned orientation camps in Abia and Akwa Ibom states.

The victims were subsequently rescued on October 7, 2026, during a joint security operation at Amakohia Ubi Village.

The string of operations mark a significant breakthrough in efforts to track down the perpetrators, dismantle the criminal network allegedly responsible for the abduction and bring those involved to justice.

A security source described the development as a major relief, noting that security agencies had sustained a wide-ranging manhunt for the abductors.

“This is a huge sigh of relief. Security agencies have been on a manhunt for the abductors, and we are elated that they have been captured. We strongly believe they will be charged to Court by DSS and the corps members will get justice,” the source said.

Military, DSS, Police Arrest Five Suspects Involved In Imo Corp Members’ Kidnap

Tension in Mangu as Fulani Herdsmen Allege Attack by Security Forces After Gunmen Wound Two, Rustle 70 Cattle

By: Zagazola Makama

Tension has been reported along the Alohom–Sabon Gari axis of Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State following an attack in which two Fulani men reportedly sustained gunshot wounds, while more than 70 cattle belonging to a Fulani resident were allegedly rustled.

However, beyond the reported shooting and cattle rustling, what has raised further concern is an allegation by some Fulani residents who witnessed the incident that they were attacked by security personnel on armored vehicle and hilux.

According to an eyewitness, “When we first heard sporadic gunshots, we attempted to run away. We then noticed that they were our security personnel in black a Hilux vehicle. The vehicle quickly withdrew after firing two shots and later returned. We then saw an armoured vehicles. Some people told us to run, but I said no, believing they had come to protect us. Before we knew it, they opened fire on us, forcing us to scamper for safety.”

The allegation, which has yet to be independently verified, has added another layer of concern to an already sensitive security situation in the area, where residents continue alleged that they are being attacked by elements of the security personnel amidst the violence between farmers and herders clashes. While we saw them rustling all our cattle. The missing cattle were reportedly owned by Alhaji Yako, a Fulani resident of the area.

On two occasions, fulani leaders pointed accusing fingers at the personnel of Operation Rainbow who in collaboration with armed militia groups stormed fulani communities to dislodge them and rustle their livestock. In another leaked conversation, a councilor in Plateau was heard saying that “We now have our own security people who are helping us to clear the Fulani. So we dont even need soldiers, they should leave our land,”the councilor was heard saying in a leaked audio.

Tension in Mangu as Fulani Herdsmen Allege Attack by Security Forces After Gunmen Wound Two, Rustle 70 Cattle

Army troops Arrests Arms Fabricator, Three Suspected Gunrunners, Recovers Weapons in Plateau

By Zagazola Makama

Troops of Operation Enduring Peace (OPEP) have arrested an alleged illegal arms fabricator and three suspected high-profile gunrunners during coordinated covert operations in Mangu and Barkin Ladi Local Government Areas of Plateau State.

Security sources told Zagazola Makama that the operation followed intelligence received by the Headquarters of OPEP on Oct. 4, indicating the activities of suspected illegal arms fabricators and gunrunners operating in the two local government areas.

Consequently, troops conducted coordinated covert operations between Oct. 7 and Oct. 11, targeting the suspected criminal networks and their operational locations.

During the operations, the troops arrested an alleged arms fabricator identified as Ayuba Sunday Abot, who was reportedly operating at Heipang in Barkin Ladi LGA.

Three other suspects identified as Tangkat Danjuma, Kopdi Appollos and Nyam Nzang were also arrested over their alleged involvement in illegal arms trafficking in Mangu and Barkin Ladi LGAs.

The operation led to the recovery of several weapons, ammunition and other items suspected to be connected with the alleged arms-trafficking activities.

Items recovered included one fabricated revolver rifle, one fabricated pistol, one fabricated AK-47 barrel and one AK-47 magazine.

The troops also recovered 42 rounds of 7.62mm × 54mm rimmed ball ammunition and some materials described in the operational report as metaphysical items.

Preliminary interrogation of the suspects reportedly indicated that they purchased ammunition at ₦3,000 per round from a security agents.

Security sources said the suspects and all recovered items had been taken to the Headquarters of Operation Enduring Peace for further investigation.

The arrests form part of ongoing security efforts to dismantle illegal arms networks and disrupt the supply of weapons and ammunition to criminal elements operating in Plateau State.

Army troops Arrests Arms Fabricator, Three Suspected Gunrunners, Recovers Weapons in Plateau