The Department of State Services (DSS) has arraigned five suspects before an Imo State High Court over the alleged abduction of 20 prospective National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members and four other persons in separate kidnapping incidents in the state.
The defendants were arraigned on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, following their arrest during intelligence-led operations conducted between October 10 and 14 in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, and Aba, Abia State.
The five defendants face charges bordering on conspiracy, hostage-taking, abduction and unlawful possession of firearms. The cases concern two separate incidents.
Three of the defendants – Usman Aliyu, 25, also known as Chonge; Babangida Aliyu, 21; and Mohammed Ali, 23, alias Smallie Pepper – are accused of abducting 20 prospective corps members and another passenger along the Owerri–Onitsha Expressway on October 1, 2026.
The victims were travelling from Ibadan, Oyo State, to their assigned NYSC orientation camps in Abia and Akwa Ibom states when gunmen reportedly attacked two buses near Umunoha in Mbaitoli Local Government Area of Imo State.
According to the prosecution, the three defendants and other suspects still at large allegedly demanded and collected ₦48 million, alongside an undisclosed amount in US dollars, as ransom for the victims’ release.
They were also accused of unlawfully possessing three AK-47 rifles, four magazines, a pistol and 81 rounds of live ammunition.
The remaining defendants, Aminu Haliru, 27, and Tange Ibrahim, 20, also known as Jijji, face separate allegations relating to the abduction of four persons around Owerri and Mgbidi on October 4.
The prosecution alleged that the duo and other accomplices collected ₦8 million to secure the release of the four victims. They were also accused of unlawfully possessing an AK-47 rifle and a pump-action gun.
All five defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges, according to media reports.
Victims Rescued After Six Days
The arraignment follows the October 1 abduction of the prospective corps members, which triggered a coordinated search-and-rescue operation involving the DSS, military, police and other security agencies.
On October 7, security operatives rescued the 20 prospective corps members and the additional passenger from the Amakohia-Ubi forest in Owerri West Local Government Area.
The rescued victims were subsequently taken to the DSS hospital in Owerri for medical attention and necessary checks.
Earlier reports indicated that security operatives used sustained search-and-rescue efforts, including drone surveillance, to locate the kidnappers’ camp. The police had reportedly encountered difficulties advancing towards the location because of suspected improvised explosive devices planted in the area.
Five Arrested, Others Still At Large
The five defendants were arrested during intelligence-led operations conducted between October 10 and 14 in Rivers and Abia states by a joint security team led by the DSS, working with the military, police and other security personnel.
Three other suspected members of the kidnapping gang reportedly escaped with gunshot wounds during the security operations, prompting a manhunt for them and other suspects still at large.
The prosecution’s allegations in court also brought further details of the separate October 4 kidnapping case, which involved four additional victims.
Following the defendants’ not-guilty pleas, the court ordered their remand at a DSS facility pending further proceedings. The matters were adjourned for further hearings, with dates including October 22, 27, 28 and 29 reported for the proceedings.