By Ghazali Ibrahim
The Department of State Services (DSS) has arraigned five suspects over the alleged kidnapping of 20 prospective National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members and other victims in Imo State.
The suspects were brought before the Imo State High Court in Owerri on Tuesday, October 20, following their arrest during intelligence-led operations in Rivers and Abia states between October 10 and 14.
The 20 prospective corps members were abducted on October 1 near Umunoha in Mbaitoli Local Government Area while travelling from Ibadan, Oyo State, to their assigned NYSC orientation camps in Abia and Akwa Ibom states.
The victims were reportedly travelling along the Owerri–Onitsha Expressway when gunmen intercepted their vehicles and took them into captivity.
They were rescued on October 7 from the Amakohia-Ubi forest in Owerri West Local Government Area following a security operation.
According to reports, three of the defendants, Usman Aliyu, Babangida Aliyu and Mohammed Ali, were accused of involvement in the abduction of the prospective corps members.
The other two suspects, Aminu Haliru and Ibrahim Jiji, were linked to a separate kidnapping involving four victims in the state.
The defendants face allegations bordering on conspiracy, hostage-taking and unlawful possession of firearms.
Three other suspected members of the alleged criminal gang reportedly escaped during the security operations, with varying degrees of gunshot injuries.
The arraignment marks a new development in efforts to prosecute those allegedly responsible for the abductions, while security agencies continue efforts to track down other suspects.
The defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty by a court of law.
