A Department of State Services (DSS) investigator has told an Imo State High Court how three suspects were identified and arrested over the abduction of 20 prospective National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members along the Owerri-Onitsha Expressway.
The witness, Ikechukwu Emmanuel, testified that investigators relied on intelligence gathering, mobile phone data analysis, record checks, interviews and statements obtained during the investigation to identify the suspects.
The prospective corps members were abducted on October 1, 2026, while travelling from Ibadan, Oyo State, to their NYSC orientation camps in Abia and Akwa Ibom states.
According to the witness, armed men attacked the two buses conveying the victims at about 6:30 am and took the passengers into the bush.
Emmanuel told the court that security agencies subsequently deployed intelligence and technical resources to locate the victims and secure their release.
He said the abductees were eventually freed after the kidnappers received ransom, while investigations continued to track down those allegedly responsible.
The DSS officer disclosed that intelligence gathered during the investigation suggested that some of the suspects had relocated to Rivers and Abia states. Three defendants — Usman Aliyu, also known as Chonge; Babangida Aliyu; and Mohammed Ali, popularly called Smallie Pepper — were subsequently arrested between October 10 and 14.
The witness said an identification parade was organised involving the defendants and 10 other individuals. According to his testimony, the victims and one of the bus drivers identified the three defendants during the exercise.
He further told the court that Usman Aliyu allegedly admitted in a statement to participating in the operation and disclosed that 11 people were involved in the kidnapping.
Emmanuel said the defendants’ statements were obtained in the presence of their lawyers and DSS legal officers.
The three men are facing charges including conspiracy, hostage-taking and unlawful possession of firearms. They have pleaded not guilty, and the allegations remain before the court.
Justice Emeka Orafu adjourned the case until October 27, 28 and 29 for continuation of the hearing, urging the prosecution and defence to cooperate to ensure the trial proceeds without unnecessary delays.
The court proceedings form part of ongoing efforts to establish responsibility for the abduction, which raised serious concerns about the safety of prospective corps members travelling to orientation camps.
