The Department of State Services (DSS) has arraigned five suspects before an Imo State High Court over alleged involvement in kidnapping incidents, including the abduction of 20 prospective National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members travelling to their orientation camps.
The suspects appeared before Justice Emeka Orafu at the Justice Oputa State High Court in Owerri on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, following intelligence-led security operations conducted in Rivers and Abia states.
Three of the defendants, identified as Usman Aliyu, Babangida Aliyu and Mohammed Ali, were specifically charged in connection with the abduction of the 20 prospective corps members along the Owerri–Onitsha Expressway.
The other two defendants, identified in several reports as Aminu Haliru and Ibrahim Jiji, were arraigned over a separate kidnapping incident involving four individuals earlier in October.
The three suspects linked to the NYSC abduction faced charges relating to kidnapping, hostage-taking, alleged collection of ransom and unlawful possession of firearms.
According to the prosecution, the suspects were allegedly involved in collecting ₦48 million and an unspecified amount in foreign currency in connection with the abduction.
All three defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The remaining two suspects also denied charges of conspiracy, hostage-taking and unlawful possession of firearms arising from the separate kidnapping case.
The arraignment followed the October 1 abduction of 20 prospective NYSC members and another passenger near Umunoha in Mbaitoli Local Government Area of Imo State.
The victims were reportedly travelling in commercial vehicles from Ibadan, Oyo State, to their designated orientation camps in Abia and Akwa Ibom states when armed men intercepted them along the Owerri–Onitsha Expressway.
The attack disrupted their journey and prompted a security operation involving personnel from the DSS, the Nigerian Army and the Nigeria Police Force.
Security operatives subsequently located and rescued the prospective corps members and the accompanying passenger on October 7 at Amakohia-Ubi in Owerri West Local Government Area.
Following their rescue, the victims were taken to the DSS hospital in Owerri for medical examinations and necessary care.
The security agencies then intensified efforts to identify and apprehend those suspected of carrying out the abduction.
According to security reports, intelligence-led operations conducted between October 10 and 14 resulted in the arrest of five suspects at locations in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, and Aba South Local Government Area of Abia State.
Three other suspected members of the criminal group reportedly escaped with gunshot injuries during the operations.
Security personnel also reportedly recovered three AK-47 rifles, a pistol and 81 rounds of ammunition during the wider investigation.
However, the prosecution will be required to establish the connection between the defendants, the recovered weapons and the alleged offences through evidence presented in court.
During Tuesday's proceedings, prosecuting counsel Ekezie Nwauzo applied for an order permitting the DSS to retain custody of the defendants pending further proceedings.
Justice Orafu granted the application, directing that the suspects remain in DSS custody.
Nnaemeka Adipuo represented the first and second defendants in the case involving the prospective corps members, while Paschal Ofoma appeared for the third defendant.
Speaking to journalists after the proceedings, defence lawyers emphasised that their clients remained entitled to the presumption of innocence until the allegations against them were established by a competent court.
The court subsequently adjourned the matters to October 22 and October 27, 28 and 29, 2026, for further proceedings.
The prosecution's allegations concerning the ₦48 million ransom form part of the criminal case and should not be treated as judicial findings.
The separate charges against the other two defendants are also significant because their inclusion in the same day's arraignment does not establish that all five participated in the kidnapping of the 20 prospective corps members.
The abduction had raised concerns about the safety of young Nigerians travelling across state boundaries to participate in the compulsory national service programme.
Prospective corps members are frequently required to travel considerable distances from their states of residence to attend orientation camps, sometimes using major highways passing through areas affected by kidnapping and other violent crimes.
The October 1 incident drew attention to those risks, particularly for travellers moving between the South-West and South-East.
Although the victims were rescued six days after their abduction, the subsequent investigation continued as security agencies sought to identify the individuals allegedly responsible.
The latest arraignment represents a further stage in that process, moving the allegations from security investigations into formal judicial proceedings.
The DSS and other security agencies are expected to continue their efforts to locate the remaining suspects reportedly being sought in connection with the investigation.
For the defendants already before the court, the next stage will involve the presentation and examination of evidence relating to the alleged abductions, ransom collection and possession of firearms.
Their pleas of not guilty mean that the prosecution bears the responsibility of proving the charges beyond reasonable doubt.
No conviction has been recorded against the five defendants in connection with the matters reported.
Proceedings are expected to continue on the scheduled dates as the Imo State High Court examines the allegations and the evidence presented by the parties.
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