By Our Reporter

The Department of State Services has arraigned five suspected members of a criminal gang allegedly responsible for the abduction of 20 prospective National Youth Service Corps members and one civilian in Imo State.

The incident occurred near Umunoha in Mbaitoli Local Government Area in Imo State on October 1, 2026.

According to Channels TV, on Tuesday, the suspects were brought before the Justice Oputa State High Court in Owerri, the state capital.

However, NTA News reports Tuesday via its Facebook page that the five arraigned suspects include Ibrahim Jiji, Aminu Haliru, Mohammed Ali, Usman Aliyu and Babangida Aliyu.

PUNCH Online reports that 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.

READ ALSO: BREAKING: Abducted 20 prospective corps members regain freedom in Imo

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

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

The string of operations marks 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 in court by DSS, and the corps members will get justice,” the source said.

By Our Reporter

Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, has clarified his ‘don’t send money home’ comment to Nigerians in the diaspora.

In a statement posted on his verified X handle on Tuesday, Obi said his message was twisted.

He said the remittances of Nigerians in the diaspora to pay for school fees, hospital bills, rent, and feeding expenses cannot be taken for granted, adding that their patriotism and sacrifices deserve profound respect.

The former Anambra state governor said he has never asked them to abandon their loved ones, noting that his concern is that Nigeria should not remain a country where millions depend on relatives abroad for basic survival.

“Even though my media office has issued a responsible clarification on the situation, I still find it necessary to add my voice to address the distortion of my message by political opponents. My message was twisted.

“I deeply appreciate Nigerians in the diaspora who work tirelessly and make enormous sacrifices to support their families back home.

“Political opponents may twist my message, but the truth remains clear: I am not asking Nigerians abroad to abandon their families. I am advocating for a Nigeria that will no longer abandon its own people,” he tweeted.

Two firms have petitioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over alleged 2.1 million U.S. dollars land transaction involving Jordan Nyesom-Wike, son of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The companies, Safwan Garba GY and GY Global Oil & Gas Nigeria Limited, through their lawyer, Hamza Dantani, raised allegations of fraud, among others, against Jordan.

A copy of the letter of petition, made available to newsmen on Monday, was acknowledged by the office of the EFCC’s chairman on Oct. 8.

It reads in part, “We act as solicitors to Safwan Garba Hammdnuilahi, Principal of GY Global Oil and Gas Ltd., and write pursuant to his firm instructions.

“We respectfully write to remind the commission of our client’s petition dated 11th September, 2025 against Mr. Jordan Nyesom-Wike, concerning the alleged fraud, obtaining by false pretence, criminal misappropriation and conversion of USD 2,100,000.00 (Two Million, One Hundred Thousand United States Dollars).

“Following the petition, our client and his witness were invited by the commission and fully cooperated with the investigation.

“However, almost eight to nine months have elapsed without any meaningful update or apparent progress on the matter.

“Of particular concern is that, to the best of our client’s knowledge, the person complained against has not been invited or questioned in respect of the allegations, nor has our client been informed of any reason for the prolonged delay.”

According to the lawyer, our client does not seek preterential treatment or predetermined outcome.

He said they merely sought a fair, impartial, transparent and expeditious investigation and equal treatment under the law.

“The EFCC is a critical institution in the fight against economic and financial crimes, and its investigative processes must be seen to operate without fear or favour,”

Ibrahim Waru, another petitioners’ lawyer, in an interview at the Federal High Court in Abuja, lamented that although the anti-graft agency had acknowledged receipt of the petition, it had yet to act on it.

According to Waru, while the civil aspect of the matter is already pending before the High Court of the FCT, the petition was filed to enable the EFCC to investigate the alleged criminal elements.

He said his clients had attached to the petition a proof of evidence, including correspondence and WhatsApp exchanges, to establish that the money was allegedly handed over to Wike’s son at a house in Gwarinpa on Sept. 26, 2025, in the presence of two witnesses.