The Department of State Services (DSS) on Tuesday arraigned five men before the Imo State High Court over two kidnapping cases, including the October 1 abduction of 20 prospective National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members in the state.
The defendants, who appeared before the Justice Oputa State High Court in Owerri, pleaded not guilty to charges bordering on conspiracy, hostage-taking and unlawful possession of firearms.
Three of the defendants — Usman Aliyu, 25, also known as Chonge; Babangida Aliyu, 21; and Mohammed Ali, 23, alias Smallie Pepper — were charged in connection with the abduction of the 20 prospective corps members on October 1.
According to the prosecution, the three men and other suspects still at large allegedly intercepted the victims along the Owerri-Mgbidi-Onitsha Expressway near Umunoha in Mbaitoli Local Government Area.
The prospective corps members were travelling from Ibadan, Oyo State, to NYSC orientation camps in Abia and Akwa Ibom states when gunmen attacked their vehicles and took them into captivity.
Prosecutors alleged that the defendants 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.
The charges include conspiracy to commit hostage-taking under the Imo State Prohibition of Hostage Taking and Related Offences Law.
The remaining two defendants—Aminu Haliru, 27, and Tange Ibrahim, 20, also known as Jijji—were arraigned in a separate case involving the alleged kidnapping of four persons around Owerri and Mgbidi on October 4.
Prosecutors alleged that the pair, alongside other suspects, collected ₦8 million for the release of the four victims. They also face allegations relating to the unlawful possession of an AK-47 rifle and a pump-action gun.
The court was told that ₦1.8 million was recovered in connection with the second case.
The arraignment followed intelligence-led operations carried out between October 10 and 14 in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, and Aba, Abia State, which resulted in the arrest of the five suspects.
Three other suspects reportedly escaped with gunshot injuries during the operations, while security agencies have continued efforts to track them and other alleged members of the group.
The October 1 abduction had triggered an extensive joint security operation after gunmen attacked two buses conveying the prospective corps members near Umunoha.
The 20 prospective corps members and another passenger were rescued on October 7 from the Amakohia-Ubi area of Owerri West Local Government Area following a coordinated security operation.
They were subsequently taken to a DSS medical facility in Owerri for examination and treatment.
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