The Department of State Services (DSS) has arraigned five suspects before the Imo State High Court in Owerri over the abduction of 20 prospective National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members and a civilian in Imo State.
The suspects were arrested during intelligence-led operations in Rivers and Abia states between October 10 and 14, following the abduction on October 1, 2026.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the DSS identified the defendants as Mohammed Ali, also known as Smallie Pepper, 23; Usman Aliyu, 25, also known as Chonge; Babangida Aliyu, 21; Ibrahim Jiji; and Aminu Haliru.
The agency said Usman Aliyu, Babangida Aliyu and Mohammed Ali were specifically charged with kidnapping the prospective corps members.
The defendants also face allegations of conspiracy to commit hostage-taking under Section 6 of the Imo State Prohibition of Hostage Taking and Related Offences Law No. 4 of 2009.
The victims were abducted when gunmen intercepted two buses travelling along the Owerri-Onitsha Expressway near Umunoha in Mbaitoli Local Government Area. They were travelling from Ibadan, Oyo State, to their designated orientation camps in Abia and Akwa Ibom states.
A joint security operation involving the DSS, military and police rescued all 21 victims on October 7 from the Amakohia-Ubi forest in Owerri West Local Government Area.
The rescue followed a ransom demand reportedly put at ₦1 billion before it was reduced. The victims subsequently received medical attention at the DSS hospital in Owerri.
Meanwhile, three other suspects reportedly escaped during the security operations with varying degrees of gunshot injuries.
The DSS said security operatives launched a manhunt for the fleeing suspects and other members of the suspected kidnapping gang.
By Musekir Faisat OmolaraÂ
