DSS Arraigns Five Over NYSC Abduction, Three Plead Not Guilty

The Department of State Services(DSS)has actually arraigned 5 suspects over the kidnapping of 20 potential National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members and 4 other individuals in Imo State, with 3 offenders pleading innocent to charges consisting of hostage-taking, ransom collection and prohibited belongings of guns.

The suspects were brought before the Imo State High Court on Tuesday in 2 different cases including supposed kidnappings along the Owerri– Onitsha roadway and other places in the state.

According to a report by Vanguard, Usman Aliyu, Babangida Aliyu and Mohammed Ali were charged over the kidnapping of 20 potential corps members who were taking a trip from Ibadan, Oyo State, to their orientation camps in Abia and Akwa Ibom states.

The 3 accuseds pleaded innocent to a three-count charge verging on kidnapping and hostage-taking, the collection of 48 million and foreign currency as ransom, and illegal ownership of guns.

In a different case, Aminu Alihu and Dangi Abraham were arraigned over the supposed kidnapping of 4 individuals, consisting of Winner Ogidi, Opara Timothy and Ogechi Henrietta, around Owerri and Mgbidi on October 4.

The 2 offenders likewise pleaded innocent to charges of conspiracy, hostage-taking and prohibited ownership of guns.

The prosecution, led by Ekezie Nwauzo, submitted an application looking for an order to keep the offenders in DSS custody. Justice Emeka Orafu gave the application.

The court adjourned the cases to October 22 and October 27, 28 and 29 for more procedures.

The arraignment followed the October 1 kidnapping of 20 potential corps members near Umunoha in Mbaitoli Local Government Area of Imo State. Shooters supposedly assaulted 2 buses communicating the victims and took them into the bush.

The victims were saved on October 7 throughout a joint security operation at Amakohia-Ubi in Imo State after a number of days in captivity.

5 suspects were consequently apprehended throughout intelligence-led operations in Rivers and Abia states in between October 10 and 14, while 3 other presumed members of the gang supposedly got away with gunshot injuries.