By Chidi Nkwopara
OWERRI — A Department of State Services, DSS, operative yesterday told an Imo State High Court how 20 prospective National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, members were abducted at gunpoint while travelling to orientation camps, as hearing began in the case against three alleged kidnappers.
The witness, Ikechukwu Emmanuel, who investigated the incident, said the victims and one of the bus drivers identified the three defendants during an identification parade.
The defendants, Usman Aliyu, alias Chonge; Babangida Aliyu; and Mohamed Ali, alias Smallie Pepper, are standing trial on a three-count charge of conspiracy, hostage-taking and unlawful possession of firearms in suit number HOU/22C/2026.
Testifying before Justice Emeka Orafu, the DSS operative said the incident occurred at about 6.30am on October 1, 2026, when the 20 prospective corps members were travelling in two buses from Ibadan to NYSC orientation camps in Abia and Akwa Ibom states.
He told the court that armed men wielding AK-47 rifles attacked the buses and took all 20 passengers hostage, moving them into the bush.
According to the witness, security agencies in Imo State, including the DSS, launched operations using human and technical intelligence to track the kidnappers and secure the victims’ release.
He said the hostages were eventually released after the payment of ransom demanded by the kidnappers, while investigations continued.
Emmanuel further told the court that intelligence reports indicated that the suspects had moved to Rivers and Abia states, leading to their arrest between October 10 and 14, 2026.
Explaining the identification process, the witness said the three defendants were placed among 10 other persons during an identification parade. He said the abducted prospective corps members and one of the bus drivers identified them.
The witness also told the court that Usman Aliyu, in his confessional statement, said 11 persons participated in the kidnap operation.
The Imo State Director of Public Prosecutions, Mr Martins Udolwu, led the prosecution team, while Mr Nnaemeka S.C. Adipo and Mr Paschal Ofoma represented the defendants.
After the witness’s evidence-in-chief, Justice Orafu adjourned the case to October 27, 28 and 29, 2026, for continuation of hearing.
The judge urged the defence to be ready to cross-examine the witness immediately after the conclusion of his evidence-in-chief, stressing that he did not want the trial to extend into the new year.
“The Defence must be ready to cross-examine the witness immediately he is done with his evidence in chief,” the judge said.
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