A bus driver who was conveying 20 prospective members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) when they were abducted in Imo State has identified five men standing trial over the incident as the alleged attackers.
The driver, who testified as the third prosecution witness before the Imo State High Court in Mgbidi on Friday, said he recognised the defendants, particularly the first accused person, who allegedly approached his vehicle carrying an AK-47 rifle.
He told the court that the same defendant subsequently led the 20 prospective corps members into a nearby bush after the attack.
Another prosecution witness, identified as Light Timothy, also testified that he saw two of the defendants carrying AK-47 rifles shortly after the abduction along the Owerri–Mgbidi–Onitsha Expressway.
Timothy said he later identified the first and second defendants as members of the gang during an identification parade conducted at the Imo State office of the Department of State Services (DSS).
The two witnesses gave their testimonies during the resumed trial of the five men accused of participating in the abduction.
During cross-examination, defence counsel requested the driver’s identity card. Presiding judge, Emeka Orafu, reportedly confirmed that the photograph on the document bore a strong resemblance to the witness.
The identity card and testimonies of both witnesses were subsequently admitted in evidence.
The defendants — Mohammed Ali, Usman Aliyu, Babangida Aliyu, Ibrahim Jiji and Aminu Haliru — were arraigned by the DSS over the abduction of 20 prospective corps members and another civilian.
According to the DSS, three of the defendants — Aliyu, 25, also known as Chonge; Babangida, 21; and Ali, 23, also known as Smallie Pepper — were specifically charged with kidnapping the prospective corps members.
They are facing charges of conspiracy to commit hostage-taking under the Imo State Prohibition of Hostage Taking and Related Offences Law No. 4 of 2009.
The five defendants were also accused of unlawfully possessing three AK-47 rifles, four magazines, a pistol and 81 rounds of live ammunition.
TheCable had earlier reported that the victims were abducted on October 1 after gunmen attacked two 18-seater buses conveying passengers from Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, to NYSC orientation camps in Abia and Akwa Ibom states.
The attack reportedly occurred around 6:30 am near Umunoha in Mbaitoli Local Government Area of Imo State.
While 10 victims were rescued shortly after the incident, the remaining abductees were freed on October 7 by a joint team of DSS, military and police operatives during an operation at Amakohia-Ubi Forest in the state.
Five suspects were subsequently arrested in Rivers and Abia states between October 10 and 14, while three other suspects reportedly escaped during the operations with gunshot wounds.
Following Friday’s proceedings, the presiding judge adjourned the case until November 3, 4, 5 and 6, 2026, for continuation of the hearing.
