Court Remands Suspects Arraigned Over Corps Members’ Kidnap In DSS Custody

The Department of State Services (DSS) yesterday arraigned three suspects, Usman Aliyu, Babangida Aliyu, and Mohammed Ali, for the kidnap of 20 prospective NYSC corps members abducted along the Owerri-Onitsha road on October 1st.

20 NYSC members were abducted by armed men along Owerri–Onitsha Expressway in Imo State on October 1, 2026, during the early hours while heading to their assigned orientation camps in Abia and Akwa Ibom states.

Usman, Babangida, and Mohammed and 14 others alleged to be on the run, were charged for conspiracy, and hostage taking of 20 corpers, collection of ransom of N48 million and dollars, and unlawful possession of firearms.

The three suspects all pleaded not guilty to the charges read in English but translated to them in Hausa language before Justice Emeka Orafu at the Oputa court premises Owerri.

They pleaded not guilty to three-count of abduction and hostage taking, collection of ransom of N48 million and dollars, as well as illegal possession of firearms.

Justice Orafu thereafter granted a motion filed by the prosecution and counsel for the state, Ekezie Nwauzo for the suspects to remain in the DSS custody.

While Nnaemeka Adipuo appeared for the first and second defendants in the case of abduction of corps members, Paschal Ofoma represented the third defendant.

Justice Orafu granted a request for accelerated hearing of the case and thereafter adjourned it to Thursday, October 22; Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, October 27, 28, 29, for hearing.

The DSS are expected to produce the suspects for hearing on Thursday.

However, in a separate arraignment before the same court, two other persons, Aminu Haliru and Jiji Ibrahim were charged with conspiracy and hostage taking, and illegal possession of firearms.

Aminu and Ibrahim were alleged to had abducted Winner Ogidi, Opara Timothy, Ogechi Henrietta and one other person on October 4, 2026 in a separate attack.

Recall that the Imo State Commissioner of Police, Audu Bosso, had said no ransom was paid for the release of the corpers, adding that they were rescued following a joint security effort at Amakohia Ubi Village in the Owerri West local government area of Imo State.