The State Security Service (SSS) has arraigned five persons before the Imo State High Court over the alleged abduction of 24 persons, including 20 prospective National Youth Service Corps members travelling to orientation camps in Abia and Akwa Ibom states.
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The defendants were arraigned in two separate cases on charges bordering on conspiracy, hostage-taking, collection of ransom and unlawful possession of firearms.
In the first case, Usman Aliyu, 25, also known as Chonge; Babangida Aliyu, 21; and Mohammed Ali, 23, also known as Smallie Pepper, were accused of abducting the 20 prospective corps members along the Owerri-Mgbidi-Onitsha Expressway on October 1, 2026.
The victims were travelling from Ibadan to their respective NYSC orientation camps in Abia and Akwa Ibom states when they were abducted. They were later released after spending nearly a week in captivity and reunited with their families.
According to the charge before the Imo State High Court, Oru Judicial Division, Mgbidi, the three defendants and others still at large allegedly conspired to abduct and hold the victims hostage.
They were charged with conspiracy to commit hostage-taking, an offence punishable under Section 6 of the Imo State Prohibition of Hostage Taking and Related Offences Law No. 4 of 2009.
The prosecution also accused them of collecting about ₦48 million and foreign currency as ransom in connection with the abduction.
They were further alleged to have unlawfully possessed three AK-47 rifles, four magazines, a pistol and 81 rounds of live ammunition.
The three defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges.
In a statement on Tuesday, the SSS said Aliyu, Babangida and Mohammed were specifically charged in connection with the abduction of the prospective corps members and were also accused of illegal possession of firearms and ammunition.
In the second case, Aminu Haliru, 27, and Tange Ibrahim, 20, also known as Jijji, were arraigned over the alleged abduction of Winner Ogidi, Opara Timothy, Ogechi Henrietta and another person around Owerri and Mgbidi on October 4, 2026.
The prosecution alleged that Haliru, Ibrahim and others still at large conspired to abduct the four victims and collected ₦8 million for their release.
They were also accused of unlawfully possessing an AK-47 rifle and a pump-action gun.
The prosecution listed ₦1.8 million as money recovered in connection with the second case, while an SSS investigator and the victims were listed among the witnesses expected to testify.
Haliru and Ibrahim also pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Following the arraignment, counsel for the state, Ekezie Nwauzo, filed an application seeking an order for the defendants to remain in SSS custody pending further proceedings.
Justice Emeka Orafu granted the application and ordered that the defendants remain in SSS custody.
Nnaemeka Adipuo appeared for the first and second defendants in the case involving the prospective corps members, while Paschal Ofoma represented the third defendant.
The court adjourned the cases to October 22 and October 27, 28 and 29, 2026, for hearing.
Speaking after the proceedings, Adipuo and Ofoma stressed that the defendants remained presumed innocent until proven guilty by the court.
The charges against all five defendants remain allegations, and no finding of guilt has been made against them.
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