Precious Nwonu, Enugu

The Department of State Services (DSS) has arraigned five suspected kidnappers before the Imo State High Court over the alleged abduction of 24 people, including 20 prospective members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).

The suspects were brought before the court on Tuesday to face charges bordering on conspiracy, hostage-taking and unlawful possession of firearms in two separate cases.

Three of the defendants, identified as Usman Aliyu, 25, popularly known as Chonge; Babangida Aliyu, 21; and Mohammed Ali, 23, also known as Smallie Pepper, were accused of abducting the prospective corps members on October 1, 2026.

According to the charge sheet filed at the Imo State High Court, Oru Judicial Division, Mgbidi, the defendants allegedly carried out the abduction with other accomplices who remain at large.

The victims were reportedly travelling from Ibadan to NYSC orientation camps in Abia and Akwa Ibom states when they were kidnapped along the Owerri-Mgbidi-Onitsha Expressway. They were rescued seven days later.

The three defendants were charged with conspiracy to commit hostage-taking, an offence punishable under Section 6 of the Imo State Prohibition of Hostage Taking and Related Offences Law No. 4 of 2009.

They were also accused of illegally possessing three AK-47 rifles, four magazines, a pistol and 81 rounds of live ammunition.

In a statement, the DSS identified the trio and outlined the allegations against them, stating that the case involved the abduction of the prospective corps members.

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 in the Owerri and Mgbidi areas on October 4, 2026.

The prosecution alleged that the defendants and other suspects at large demanded and received N8 million for the release of the victims.

They were also accused of unlawfully possessing 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 allegations against the five defendants are before the court for determination.