The Department of State Services (DSS) has arraigned five suspects over the alleged kidnapping of National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members along the Owerri-Onitsha Road.
Three of the suspects — Usman Aliyu, Babangida Aliyu and Mohammed Ali — were charged with abduction and hostage-taking, collecting ransom of ₦48 million and foreign currency, as well as illegal possession of firearms.
The other two defendants, Aminu Haliru and Jiji Ibrahim, were charged with conspiracy, hostage-taking and illegal possession of firearms.
According to the report, the suspects were also accused of abducting Winner Ogidi, Opara Timothy, Ogechi Henrietta and another individual on October 4, 2026. They all pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Counsel to the state, Ekezie Nwauzo, filed an application seeking to keep the defendants in DSS custody pending further proceedings. The application was granted by the presiding judge, Justice Emeka Orafu.
Nnaemeka Adipuo represented the first and second defendants in the case involving the alleged abduction of corps members, while Paschal Ofoma appeared for the third defendant.
The cases were adjourned to October 22 and October 27, 28 and 29 for further proceedings.
The report recalled that about 20 corps members were allegedly abducted on October 1 while travelling along the Owerri-Onitsha Road to NYSC orientation camps in Akwa Ibom and Abia states.
The corps members were reportedly released after spending about six days in captivity and were subsequently reunited with their families.
Speaking with journalists after the court session, defence counsel Adipuo and Ofoma maintained that the defendants were presumed innocent until proven guilty.
The suspects remain entitled to the presumption of innocence as the cases proceed through the court.