Two men standing trial over the abduction of 20 prospective members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in Imo State have admitted making written and audio-visual confessional statements tendered by the Department of State Services (DSS).
Usman Aliyu and Babangida Aliyu, the first and second defendants respectively, made the admission on Thursday during cross-examination before the Imo State High Court.
Both defendants also pleaded with the court to forgive them and release them as they opened their defence in the case bordering on conspiracy, hostage-taking and unlawful possession of firearms.
During cross-examination, Aliyu and Babangida acknowledged that they voluntarily made the audio-visual statements and thumb-printed their written confessions in the presence of their lawyers.
The DSS subsequently tendered the statements in court, where they were admitted as evidence.
Their admission came days after prosecution witnesses had testified about the alleged involvement of the defendants in the October 1 abduction of the prospective corps members.
The 20 victims were travelling from Ibadan, Oyo State, to NYSC orientation camps in Abia and Akwa Ibom states when gunmen attacked two buses near Umunoha in Mbaitoli Local Government Area of Imo State.
The victims were eventually rescued on October 7 following a security operation, while five suspects were arrested in Rivers and Abia states between October 10 and 14.
Three defendants – Usman Aliyu, Babangida Aliyu and Mohammed Ali – were specifically accused of abducting the prospective corps members.
They were charged alongside two other defendants in related proceedings.
Earlier in the trial, a DSS investigator told the court that victims and a bus driver had identified the three defendants during an identification parade.
The investigator also said Aliyu’s statement indicated that 11 people participated in the operation.
In a related case heard on Thursday, proceedings continued against two other defendants accused of conspiracy, kidnapping and unlawful possession of firearms.
A prosecution witness identified the two men as those who allegedly kidnapped him for ransom in Imo State on October 4, 2026.
Presiding judge, Justice Emeka Orafu, adjourned both cases until November 6 for continuation of proceedings.
