Kidnap of NYSC members: Suspects confess, beg court for forgiveness

Two persons standing trial for the Independence Day kidnapping of 20 prospective members of the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, in Imo State, on Thursday, told a high court of the state that they indeed made the statements and audiovisual confessions tendered before the court by the Department of State Services, DSS.

Both men, Usman Aliyu and Babangida Aliyu, the first and second defendants, respectively, however, begged the court for forgiveness.

At the resumed sitting of the court on Thursday, the first and second defendants, under cross-examination, admitted that they confessed in their statements and also thumb-printed the written statements before their counsel. The materials were tendered in court by the DSS.

Earlier, in their evidence-in-chief, both defendants pleaded with the court to forgive them and set them free over charges of conspiracy, hostage-taking, and unlawful possession of firearms.

In another related matter, the trial of two other defendants for suspected conspiracy, kidnapping and unlawful possession of firearms continued, with a prosecution witness identifying both defendants as the persons who kidnapped him for ransom in the state on October 4, 2026.

At the conclusion of the day’s proceedings, the trial judge, Justice Emeka Orafu, adjourned both matters to November 6th for continuation.