Five Suspects Plead Not Guilty in Imo State Kidnapping Case

Five suspects have pleaded not guilty to charges related to the kidnapping of 20 prospective National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members and four others in Imo State. The arraignment took place at the Justice Oputa State High Court in Owerri.

The suspects face multiple charges, including conspiracy, hostage-taking, and illegal possession of firearms. Three of the suspects, aged between 21 and 25, are accused of abducting the corps members on October 1, 2026, which is Nigeria’s Independence Day.

According to court documents, these three individuals allegedly demanded and received ₦48 million and an undisclosed amount in US dollars for the victims’ release. They are also charged with having three AK-47 rifles, a pistol, and 81 rounds of live ammunition.

The other two suspects, aged 20 and 27, are linked to the abduction of four additional victims on October 4, just days after the first incident. They are accused of collecting ₦8 million for their release and also face charges related to illegal possession of firearms.

The judge, Justice Emeka Orafu, has scheduled the next hearing for October 22, 2026. The victims were taken near Umunoha while traveling to their NYSC orientation camps in Abia and Akwa Ibom states. A security operation led to their rescue on October 7 from a forest in Owerri West.

Following the rescue, the Department of State Services (DSS) arrested the five suspects during operations in Port Harcourt and Aba. Some other suspects reportedly escaped and are still being pursued by authorities.