By Mardiyyah Abubakar
A State High Court sitting in Owerri, Imo State, has urged lawyers to ensure the speedy trial of five suspected kidnappers linked to the abduction of National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members and other victims.
The presiding judge, Justice Emeka Orafu, urged prosecution and defence counsel to cooperate with the court to ensure it delivers judgments before January 2027.
The court heard evidence from a Department of State Services (DSS) investigative officer, Ikem Emmanuel, who testified about the investigation that led to the arrest of three suspects accused of abducting prospective corps members.
Emmanuel said investigators used intelligence gathering, phone data analysis, record checks, interviews and statements from the defendants, victims and witnesses.
He added that victims and witnesses identified the suspects during an identification parade as alleged members of a kidnapping gang.
The DSS officer further told the court that one of the defendants, Usman Aliyu, admitted in his statement to participating in the operation and allegedly disclosed that 11 people were involved.
Emmanuel maintained that investigators obtained the defendants’ statements in the presence of their lawyers and DSS legal officers.
He also testified in a separate case involving two other defendants accused of kidnapping.
Justice Orafu adjourned the cases to October 27, 28, 29 and 30 for continuation of the hearing. The five defendants will remain in DSS custody as proceedings continue.
On October 1, 2026, gunmen abducted 20 prospective corps members near Umunoha in Mbaitoli Local Government Area while they travelled from Ibadan, Oyo State, to their assigned NYSC orientation camps in Abia and Akwa Ibom states.
Security operatives rescued the prospective corps members and a civilian from Amakohia-Ubi forest in Owerri West Local Government Area six days later.
The DSS subsequently arrested five suspects during intelligence-led operations conducted between October 10 and 14 in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, and Aba, Abia State.
