The Department of State Services (DSS) has arraigned five suspects before the Imo State High Court over the alleged abduction of 24 people, including 20 prospective National Youth Service Corps members.

The defendants are facing charges relating to conspiracy, hostage-taking and unlawful possession of firearms in two separate cases before the court.

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Three of the suspects — Usman Aliyu, 25, also known as Chonge; Babangida Aliyu, 21; and Mohammed Ali, 23, also known as Smallie Pepper — were accused of abducting the prospective corps members on October 1, 2026.

According to the charge sheet filed before the Imo State High Court, Oru Judicial Division, Mgbidi, the defendants and others still at large allegedly carried out the abduction along the Owerri-Mgbidi-Onitsha Expressway.

The victims were reportedly travelling from Ibadan to NYSC orientation camps in Abia and Akwa Ibom states when they were kidnapped.

They were eventually rescued after spending seven days in captivity.

The three suspects were charged with conspiracy to commit hostage-taking, an offence punishable under Section 6 of the Imo State Prohibition of Hostage Taking and Related Offences Law No. 4 of 2009.

They were also accused of unlawfully possessing three AK-47 rifles, four magazines, a pistol and 81 rounds of live ammunition.

In a statement on Tuesday, the DSS said the suspects were specifically charged over the alleged kidnapping of the prospective corps members.

The service also said the defendants were accused of possessing the firearms and ammunition unlawfully.

In a separate case, Aminu Haliru, 27, and Tange Ibrahim, 20, also known as Jijji, were arraigned over the alleged abduction of four people around Owerri and Mgbidi on October 4.

The prosecution alleged that the two suspects and others still at large collected N8 million as ransom for the release of the victims.

They were also accused of unlawfully possessing an AK-47 rifle and a pump-action gun.

The prosecution listed N1.8 million as money recovered in connection with the second case.

A DSS investigator and the victims were listed as witnesses in both cases.

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The arraignment marks a significant step in the prosecution of the suspects over the alleged kidnappings, while the charges remain subject to determination by the court.