Department of State Services (DSS) on Tuesday arraigned five suspects before an Imo State High Court in connection with the abduction of 20 prospective National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members and others.
The suspects were brought to court following their arrest during intelligence-led operations in Rivers and Abia states between October 10 and 14, conducted jointly by the DSS, military and police.
The victims were abducted in the early hours of October 1 when gunmen attacked two buses conveying passengers from Ibadan, Oyo State, to NYSC orientation camps in Abia and Akwa Ibom states. The attack occurred near Umunoha in Mbaitoli Local Government Area along the Owerri–Onitsha expressway.
A joint security team rescued the abductees on October 7 from the Amakohia-Ubi forest in Imo State. The victims later received medical attention.
Three of the suspects — Usman Aliyu, 25, also known as Chonge; Babangida Aliyu, 21; and Mohammed Ali, 23, alias Smallie Pepper — face charges linked to the kidnapping of the prospective corps members. They are accused of conspiracy to commit hostage-taking and unlawful possession of firearms, including three AK-47 rifles, magazines, a pistol and live ammunition.
In a related case, Aminu Haliru, 27, and Tange Ibrahim, 20, alias Jijji, were charged over the alleged abduction of four other persons around Owerri and Mgbidi on October 4.
Three other suspects reportedly escaped during the operations with gunshot wounds. A manhunt continues for them and other members of the suspected gang.
The defendants pleaded not guilty. The cases were adjourned for further hearing.
