DSS Arraigns Five Suspected Kidnappers of 20 Corps Members, Others in Imo

The Department of State Services (DSS) has arraigned five suspected kidnappers before the Imo State High Court over the alleged abduction of 20 prospective National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members and four other people in the state.

The defendants were brought before the court on Tuesday to face charges bordering on conspiracy, hostage-taking and unlawful possession of firearms.

Three of the accused, Usman Aliyu, 25, also known as Chonge; Babangida Aliyu, 21; and Mohammed Ali, 23, popularly known as Smallie Pepper, were charged over the abduction of 20 prospective corps members on October 1, Nigeria’s Independence Day.

The victims were travelling from Ibadan, Oyo State, to their assigned NYSC orientation camps in Abia and Akwa Ibom states when gunmen allegedly abducted them along the Owerri–Mgbidi–Onitsha Expressway in Imo State.

The prosecution alleged that the three defendants, alongside other suspects still at large, carried out the abduction and unlawfully possessed three AK-47 rifles, four magazines, a pistol and 81 rounds of live ammunition.

The charge of conspiracy to commit hostage-taking is punishable under Section 6 of the Imo State Prohibition of Hostage Taking and Related Offences Law No. 4 of 2009.

The 20 prospective corps members were rescued on October 7 during a joint security operation at Amakohia-Ubi forest in Imo State, following days of search efforts by security agencies.

In a separate case, two other defendants, Aminu Haliru, 27, and Tange Ibrahim, 20, also known as Jijji, were arraigned over the alleged kidnapping of four people around Owerri and Mgbidi on October 4.

The prosecution accused the pair and other suspects still at large of abducting the victims and collecting N8 million as ransom for their release.

They were also charged with unlawful possession of an AK-47 rifle and a pump-action gun. The prosecution listed N1.8 million as money recovered in connection with the second case.

A DSS investigator and the victims were listed as witnesses in both cases.

The five defendants were arrested during intelligence-led operations conducted between October 10 and 14 in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, and Aba South Local Government Area of Abia State. The operations involved security personnel working to identify and apprehend those allegedly responsible for the kidnappings.

Three other suspected members of the gang reportedly escaped during the operations with gunshot injuries, prompting security agencies to intensify efforts to locate them and other fleeing suspects.

The arraignment marks a further step in the investigation and prosecution of those accused of participating in the abductions. The allegations remain before the court for determination.