The Department of State Services, DSS, has arraigned five suspects before a court in Imo State over the alleged abduction of twenty prospective National Youth Service Corps members and other victims.
The suspects were brought before the Imo State High Court on Tuesday, October 20, following their arrest during intelligence-led security operations in Rivers and Abia states between October 10 and 14.
Reports indicate that three of the defendants are facing charges linked to the abduction of the twenty prospective corps members, who were travelling from Ibadan, Oyo State, to their assigned NYSC orientation camps in Abia and Akwa Ibom states.
The victims were reportedly abducted by gunmen on October 1 along the Owerri–Onitsha Expressway, near Umunoha in Mbaitoli Local Government Area of Imo State. They were later rescued by security operatives on October 7 after several days in captivity.
The three defendants in the case are accused of conspiracy and hostage-taking. Prosecutors also alleged that they unlawfully possessed firearms and ammunition.
The other two suspects were arraigned in a separate case involving the alleged abduction of four people in the state. Prosecutors alleged that ransom was collected in connection with that incident.
The charges are allegations and have not yet been established in court. The suspects are entitled to the presumption of innocence until proven guilty.
Security agencies are continuing efforts to track down other suspects who may have participated in the alleged crimes.
The arraignment marks another stage in the investigation into the abduction, which raised serious concerns about the safety of prospective corps members and other travellers on Nigerian highways.