Imo Court Seeks Speedy Trial of Five Suspected Kidnappers

A State High Court sitting in Owerri, Imo State, has urged lawyers in ongoing kidnapping cases involving five suspects to cooperate with the court to ensure judgments are delivered before January 2027.

Presiding Judge, Justice Emeka Orafu, made the appeal during proceedings involving three defendants accused of abducting prospective National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members and two others facing charges in a separate kidnapping case.

DSS Officer Testifies

A Department of State Services (DSS) investigative officer, Ikem Emmanuel, testified on the investigation into the NYSC-related abduction case.

He told the court that investigators relied on intelligence gathering, phone data analysis, record checks, interviews and statements from the defendants, victims and witnesses. He also said victims and witnesses identified the defendants during an identification parade.

According to the officer, one defendant, Usman Aliyu, allegedly admitted participating in the operation and disclosed that 11 people were involved. Emmanuel maintained that the defendants’ statements were obtained in the presence of their lawyers and DSS legal officers.

The officer also testified in the separate case involving two other defendants, giving details of the investigation and how their statements were obtained.

Hearings to Continue

Justice Orafu adjourned the cases to October 27, 28, 29 and 30 for further hearings. The five defendants are to remain in DSS custody as proceedings continue.

The cases stem partly from the abduction of 20 prospective corps members near Umunoha in Mbaitoli Local Government Area on October 1, 2026, while they were travelling from Ibadan to NYSC orientation camps in Abia and Akwa Ibom states.

The prospective corps members and a civilian were rescued from the Amakohia-Ubi forest in Owerri West six days later. The DSS subsequently arrested five suspects in operations conducted between October 10 and 14 in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, and Aba, Abia State.

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