The Department of State Services (DSS) has arraigned five suspects over the alleged abduction of 20 prospective National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members and other passengers in Imo State.
The suspects – Usman Aliyu, 25, also known as Chonge; Babangida Aliyu, 21; Mohammed Ali, 23, alias Smallie Pepper; Aminu Haliru, 27; and Tange Ibrahim, 20, also known as Jijji – were arraigned before the Imo State High Court sitting in Owerri on Tuesday.
They pleaded not guilty to a three-count charge bordering on conspiracy, hostage-taking and unlawful possession of firearms.
According to the prosecution, Usman Aliyu, Babangida Aliyu and Mohammed Ali allegedly participated in the October 1 abduction of 20 prospective corps members and another passenger along the Owerri–Onitsha Expressway.
The victims were travelling from Ibadan, Oyo State, to their respective NYSC orientation camps in Abia and Akwa Ibom states when gunmen intercepted their vehicles near Umunoha in Mbaitoli Local Government Area.
The prosecution alleged that the three suspects demanded and collected ₦48 million and an undisclosed amount in US dollars as ransom for the release of the victims.
They were also accused of unlawfully possessing three AK-47 rifles, four magazines, a pistol and 81 rounds of live ammunition.
Haliru and Ibrahim, meanwhile, are accused of abducting four other persons around Owerri and Mgbidi on October 4, four days after the first incident.
According to the charge, the duo and other suspects still at large allegedly collected ₦8 million for the release of the four victims.
They were also accused of possessing an AK-47 rifle and a pump-action gun without lawful authority.
The prosecution said the conspiracy-to-commit-hostage-taking charge is punishable under Section 6 of the Imo State Prohibition of Hostage Taking and Related Offences Law No. 4 of 2009.
The October 1 abduction had triggered a coordinated search-and-rescue operation involving the DSS, military and Nigeria Police Force.
Security operatives rescued the 20 prospective corps members and the other passenger on October 7 from a forest around Amakohia-Ubi in Owerri West Local Government Area.
The victims were subsequently taken to the DSS hospital in Owerri for medical attention and necessary examinations.
Following the rescue, security agencies intensified efforts to identify and apprehend members of the suspected kidnapping syndicate.
The DSS said intelligence-led operations conducted between October 10 and 14 in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, and Aba, Abia State, led to the arrest of the five defendants.
The operations were carried out jointly with military and police personnel.
Three other suspects reportedly escaped during the operations with gunshot injuries, prompting a continued manhunt for them and other members of the alleged syndicate.
Presiding judge, Justice Emeka Orafu, adjourned the case until Thursday, October 22, when proceedings are expected to continue.
The arraignment marks a major development in the investigation into the abduction of the NYSC-bound travellers and the subsequent security operation to dismantle the suspected kidnapping network.
