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 potential NYSC corps members kidnapped alongside the Owerri-Onitsha highway on October 1st.

20 NYSC members had been kidnapped by armed males alongside Owerri–Onitsha Expressway in Imo State on October 1, 2026, through the early hours whereas 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, had been charged for conspiracy, and hostage taking of 20 corpers, assortment of ransom of N48 million and {dollars}, and illegal possession of firearms.

The three suspects all pleaded not responsible to the costs learn in English however translated to them in Hausa language earlier than Justice Emeka Orafu on the Oputa courtroom premises Owerri.

They pleaded not responsible to three-count of abduction and hostage taking, assortment of ransom of N48 million and {dollars}, in addition to unlawful possession of firearms.

Justice Orafu thereafter granted a movement filed by the prosecution and counsel for the state, Ekezie Nwauzo for the suspects to stay within the DSS custody.

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

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

The DSS are anticipated to provide the suspects for listening to on Thursday.

However, in a separate arraignment earlier than the identical courtroom, two different individuals, Aminu Haliru and Jiji Ibrahim had been charged with conspiracy and hostage taking, and unlawful possession of firearms.

Aminu and Ibrahim had been alleged to had kidnapped Winner Ogidi, Opara Timothy, Ogechi Henrietta and one different individual on October 4, 2026 in a separate assault.

Recall that the Imo State Commissioner of Police, Audu Bosso, had mentioned no ransom was paid for the discharge of the corpers, including that they had been rescued following a joint safety effort at Amakohia Ubi Village within the Owerri West native authorities space of Imo State.