The Department of State Services (DSS) has arraigned five men in Imo State over the alleged kidnapping of 20 prospective National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members and four other people in two separate cases.
Three defendants — Usman Aliyu, 25, also known as Chonge; Babangida Aliyu, 21; and Mohammed Ali, 23, known as Smallie Pepper — are accused of abducting the prospective corps members on Oct. 1 along the Owerri-Mgbidi-Onitsha Expressway.
The victims were travelling from Ibadan to orientation camps in Abia and Akwa Ibom states and were rescued after seven days.
According to the charge sheet filed at the Imo State High Court, Oru Judicial Division in Mgbidi, the defendants and others still at large allegedly conspired to take the victims hostage.
They are also accused of 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, are accused of abducting four people around Owerri and Mgbidi on Oct. 4.
Prosecutors allege that the pair and other suspects collected ₦8 million for the victims’ release. They also face charges relating to the alleged possession of an AK-47 rifle and a pump-action gun.
The prosecution listed ₦1.8 million as money recovered in the second case. A DSS investigator and the victims are listed as witnesses in both cases.
The charges include conspiracy, hostage-taking and unlawful possession of firearms. The defendants’ guilt has not been established.
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