SSS arraigns five suspects over kidnap of 20 NYSC members

The Department of State Services (DSS) has arraigned five suspects before the Imo State High Court in Owerri following the abduction of 20 prospective National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members and four other passengers.

The defendants—identified as Mohammed Ali, Usman Aliyu (also known as Chonge), Babangida Aliyu, Ibrahim Jiji, and Aminu Haliru—were brought before the Justice Oputa State High Court on Tuesday to face charges bordering on conspiracy, hostage-taking, and unlawful possession of firearms.

The arraignment comes after joint intelligence-led operations conducted by the DSS, military, and police operatives across Rivers and Abia states between October 10 and 14 led to the arrest of the suspects, while three other gang members escaped with bullet wounds.

Independence Day Attack and Forest Rescue

The victims were intercepted in the early hours of October 1, 2026, near Umunoha in the Mbaitoli Local Government Area of Imo State. The prospective corps members were traveling from Ibadan, Oyo State, to their designated orientation camps in Abia and Akwa Ibom states in two 18-seater passenger buses when armed men forced them into the bush.

While police operatives rescued 10 passengers shortly after the ambush, the abductors marched the remaining 20 prospective corps members and additional passengers deep into the forest.

The kidnappers subsequently made contact with the victims’ families, initially demanding a ransom of N1 billion before scaling down their demand to N5 million per victim, totaling N100 million.

Following a week-long search operation, a joint task force rescued the remaining 20 abductees on October 7 from a hideout in the Amakohia-Ubi forest, Owerri West. Operatives noted that advance teams faced operational delays after drone surveillance revealed the perimeter surrounding the kidnappers’ camp had been rigged with Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs).

Following their rescue, the corps members were taken to the DSS medical facility in Owerri for medical evaluation before being reunited with their families.

Legal Proceedings Commence in Owerri

Appearing before the court in two separate case filings on Tuesday, the prosecution outlined the formal charges brought against the five defendants.

According to court filings, the suspects and others currently at large face charges brought under the Imo State Prohibition of Hostage Taking and Related Offences Law.

Addressing the court during proceedings, the DSS legal team affirmed that security forces are maintaining a active manhunt for the remaining fleeing suspects.

“The defendants, along with others still at large, conspired to commit hostage-taking and illegal possession of arms, offences punishable under Section 6 of the Imo State Prohibition of Hostage Taking and Related Offences Law No. 4 of 2009,” the DSS prosecution noted in its court filing.

Commenting on the security operations following the arrests, Imo State Police Public Relations Officer, Henry Okoye, confirmed that security agencies had maintained continuous surveillance to track down all members of the syndicate.

“Sustained intelligence operations enabled joint teams to track down key suspects across state lines,” Okoye stated during an earlier operational update. “Our commitment remains total in ensuring that highways across the state are secured and all criminal hideouts cleared.”