DSS Officer Tells Court How Victims Allegedly Identified Suspects In NYSC Kidnap Case

An Imo State High Court has scheduled four consecutive days, from October 27 to 30, for the continuation of two kidnapping trials involving five defendants, including three accused of abducting 20 prospective National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members.

Justice Emeka Orafu fixed the dates during proceedings in the two separate cases on Thursday and urged the prosecution and defence teams to cooperate to ensure that the trials are concluded and judgments delivered before January 2027.

During the hearing involving the prospective corps members, a Department of State Services (DSS) officer, Ikem Emmanuel, testified about the investigation that led to the arrest of the three defendants.

Emmanuel told the court that the investigation involved intelligence gathering, data analysis, records checks, interviews and statements obtained from the defendants, victims and witnesses.

According to the officer, an identification parade was conducted during which victims and witnesses allegedly identified the three defendants as members of the gang responsible for their abduction.

He further testified that one of the defendants, Usman Aliyu, allegedly admitted in his statement to participating in the kidnapping operation and disclosed that 11 people were involved.

The DSS officer maintained that the defendants’ statements were obtained in the presence of their lawyers and DSS legal officers.

Emmanuel also gave evidence in the related case involving two other defendants accused of a separate kidnapping offence. He told the court that their statements were equally obtained in the presence of their lawyers and DSS legal officers.

Following the proceedings, Justice Orafu adjourned both cases until October 27 to 30 for further hearings and ordered that all five defendants remain in DSS custody pending the next sitting.

The judge urged the lawyers handling the cases to make effective use of the scheduled hearing days and avoid unnecessary delays, stressing the need to ensure that the proceedings advance towards timely judgments.

According to Bush Radio Academy, the court has set aside four consecutive days to advance the kidnapping trials, including the case involving the alleged abduction of 20 prospective NYSC members, as the defendants remain in custody awaiting further proceedings.