DSS arraigns five over abduction of corps members, passengers in Imo

The Department of State Services (DSS) on Tuesday arraigned five suspects before the Mgbidi High Court in Owerri over the alleged abduction of 24 people, including 20 prospective corps members, in Imo.

The suspects were arraigned in two separate cases before Justice Emeka Orafu.

The first three defendants, Usman Aliyu, Babangida Aliyu and Mohammed Ali, were accused of conspiring with others still at large to abduct 20 National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members.

Prosecution Counsel, Mr Ekezie Nwauzo, told the court that the incident occurred in the early hours of Oct. 1 around the Mgbidi axis of the Onitsha-Owerri Expressway.

Nwauzo alleged that the defendants demanded and received N48 million and some dollars from the victims’ families before releasing them.

The defendants, however, pleaded not guilty to the three-count charge bordering on conspiracy to hostage-taking, abduction and unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition.

Justice Orafu ordered that they be remanded in a DSS facility and adjourned the case until Thursday for further hearing.

In a separate case, the DSS arraigned Aminu Aliru and Dangi Abraham over the alleged abduction of four other passengers at the same location on the same date.

The two defendants also pleaded not guilty to a three-count charge involving conspiracy, abduction, unlawful possession of firearms and a demand for N8 million ransom.

The judge equally adjourned the case until Thursday for further hearing.

It would be recalled that two buses conveying prospective corps members and other passengers from Ibadan to Uyo and Bende in Abia were reportedly attacked on Oct. 1.

The victims were taken hostage in a forest by suspected armed men.

They regained their freedom on Oct. 7 following the intervention of security agencies.