The Department of State Services (DSS) on Tuesday arraigned five individuals before the Imo State High Court in connection with the alleged abduction of 24 people, including 20 prospective members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).
The suspects face charges of conspiracy, hostage-taking, and unlawful possession of firearms in two separate cases.
Three of the accused—Usman Aliyu (25), also known as Chonge; Babangida Aliyu (21); and Mohammed Ali (23), alias Smallie Pepper—are specifically charged with abducting the NYSC candidates on October 1, 2026 (Independence Day).
According to court documents filed in the Oru Judicial Division, Mgbidi, the defendants and others still at large allegedly kidnapped the victims along the Owerri-Mgbidi-Onitsha Expressway. The prospective corps members had been traveling from Ibadan to orientation camps in Abia and Akwa Ibom states when they were seized. They were eventually rescued after seven days in captivity.
The trio faces charges of conspiracy to commit hostage-taking, a violation of Section 6 of the Imo State Prohibition of Hostage Taking and Related Offences Law No. 4 of 2009. They are also accused of illegally possessing three AK-47 rifles, four magazines, a pistol, and 81 rounds of live ammunition.
In a separate case, Aminu Haliru (27) and Tange Ibrahim (20), also known as Jijji, were brought before the court for allegedly abducting four people in the Owerri and Mgbidi areas on October 4.
The prosecution claims that Haliru, Ibrahim, and others at large demanded and received N8 million as ransom for the victims’ release. They are further accused of illegal possession of an AK-47 rifle and a pump-action gun. Authorities recovered N1.8 million in connection with the second case.
A DSS investigator and the victims are expected to testify as witnesses in both cases.
