Five Arraigned Over Kidnapping of 20 Prospective NYSC Members in Imo

The Department of State Services (DSS) has arraigned five suspects before the Imo State High Court over the kidnapping of 20 prospective National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members and four other individuals in two separate abduction cases that jolted the nation earlier this month.

The three prime suspects linked to the corps members’ abduction—Usman Aliyu (25), also known as Chonge; Babangida Aliyu (21); and Mohammed Ali (23), alias Smallie Pepper—were brought before the Oru Judicial Division of the High Court in Mgbidi on Tuesday. They face charges of conspiracy, hostage-taking, and unlawful possession of firearms. According to the charge sheet presented by the DSS, the trio and other suspects still at large allegedly abducted the prospective corps members on October 1, 2026, along the Owerri–Mgbidi–Onitsha Expressway. The victims were travelling from Ibadan, Oyo State, to their orientation camps in Abia and Akwa Ibom states when their vehicles were intercepted.

Prosecutors told the court that the defendants demanded a staggering ₦950 million ransom for the release of the 20 captives. It was further alleged that the suspects actually collected ₦48 million and an undisclosed amount in United States dollars before the victims regained their freedom. The DSS also accused the defendants of unlawfully possessing three AK-47 rifles, four magazines, a pistol, and 81 rounds of live ammunition. All five defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges when they were read to them. Following their plea, the trial judge, Justice Emeka Orafu, ordered that they be remanded at the DSS facility pending further proceedings. The case has been adjourned for hearing on various dates in late October.

In a related development, two other suspects—Aminu Haliru (27) and Tange Ibrahim (20), also known as Jijji—were arraigned in connection with the abduction of four individuals around Owerri and Mgbidi on October 4. The prosecution alleged that the pair and others at large collected ₦8 million for the release of those victims. They were also charged with illegal possession of an AK-47 rifle and a pump-action gun, with ₦1.8 million reportedly recovered from them.

The abduction of the 20 prospective corps members occurred in the early hours of October 1 along the busy Owerri-Onitsha road near Umunoha in the Mbaitoli Local Government Area of Imo State. The incident sparked widespread outrage and concern over the safety of young Nigerians travelling for national service. Following the abduction, security agencies launched a coordinated search-and-rescue operation. The Imo State Police Command had disclosed that its operatives located the kidnappers’ hideout using drone surveillance but faced difficulties accessing the camp after discovering it had been planted with improvised explosive devices (IEDs). Additional equipment, including bulldozers and armoured personnel carriers, was subsequently deployed. The victims were eventually released on October 7, exactly one week after their abduction. They were subsequently taken to the DSS hospital in Owerri for medical attention and debriefing.

While security agencies maintained that the victims were rescued through a joint operation involving the DSS, military, and police, the circumstances of their release have remained a subject of controversy. Some parents of the rescued corps members had earlier told journalists that they paid millions of naira in ransom to secure their children’s freedom, contradicting the official rescue narrative. Reports indicated that some families paid between ₦3 million and ₦6 million, with payments allegedly made in Ibadan and subsequently converted to dollars for delivery in Imo State. The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) had called for transparency, questioning whether the victims were genuinely rescued by security forces or released after ransom negotiations. The Imo State Government, however, distanced itself from the ransom claims. The arraignment of the suspects marks a significant step in the investigation, as security agencies continue efforts to apprehend other members of the kidnapping gang who reportedly fled with gunshot wounds during the intelligence-led operations that led to the arrests in Port Harcourt and Aba between October 10 and 14.

Five Arraigned Over Kidnapping of 20 Prospective NYSC Members in Imo

Ebola: Ogun Tracks 111 Travellers as FAAN Tightens Airport Surveillance

The Ogun State Government has stepped up surveillance and emergency preparedness, while the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria has intensified health monitoring across airport operations following the confirmation of an Ebola Virus Disease case in the Federal Capital Territory.

Ogun said it had identified and monitored 111 persons of interest linked to travel from high-risk countries, while assuring residents that no Ebola case had been recorded in the state as of October 21, 2026.

The parallel measures by the state government and FAAN underscore growing efforts to strengthen surveillance, improve early detection and prevent the spread of the potentially deadly disease following the reported case in Abuja.

Ogun State Commissioner for Health, Dr Tomi Coker, disclosed the state’s response in a statement on Wednesday, saying the government had been on heightened alert since Ebola was declared in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in March 2026.

According to her, the 111 persons identified for monitoring had completed the required surveillance period and were subsequently discharged from follow-up.

Coker said the state’s Public Health Emergency Operations Centre was coordinating preparedness and response activities to ensure the prompt identification, reporting and management of suspected cases.

She added that the government had strengthened the capacity of Disease Surveillance and Notification Officers, port health officers, health educators, clinicians and community informants through training on appropriate response procedures.

Relevant national guidelines and protocols had also been adapted and deployed, while public sensitisation and infection prevention and control measures in healthcare facilities were being intensified.

The commissioner urged residents to remain vigilant, observe preventive measures and avoid panic or spreading unverified information.

She explained that Ebola is a serious viral disease capable of causing severe illness and death, with early symptoms that may resemble those of other common illnesses.

The symptoms include fever, severe weakness, fatigue, headache, muscle pain, sore throat, vomiting, diarrhoea and abdominal pain. Unexplained bleeding or bruising may also occur in some cases.

According to Coker, symptoms can develop between two and 21 days after exposure. However, she cautioned that experiencing these symptoms does not automatically mean a person has Ebola, stressing the importance of prompt professional medical assessment, particularly where there has been possible exposure or travel to a high-risk area.

She said the virus spreads through direct contact with the blood or body fluids of an infected person who has developed symptoms, the body of someone who has died from the disease, or materials contaminated with such fluids.

Meanwhile, FAAN said it had heightened health surveillance across airport operations in response to the confirmed case in Abuja.

In a statement issued on Tuesday by its Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Henry Agbebire, the authority said it was working with the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, Port Health Services, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority and other relevant agencies to support ongoing containment efforts.

FAAN noted that the early identification of the case and the commencement of contact tracing highlighted the importance of effective surveillance, established public health protocols and inter-agency collaboration in responding to potential health threats.

The authority said it would maintain heightened vigilance across airport operations and continue to coordinate with public health authorities to implement additional guidance and measures considered necessary to protect passengers, airport personnel and the wider public.

It also urged passengers, airport users, airlines and other stakeholders to remain calm, vigilant and cooperative with health officials.

Both the Ogun government and FAAN advised the public to rely on verified information from official health authorities and avoid circulating unconfirmed reports.

The developments highlight the importance of coordinated surveillance, timely reporting and public cooperation in containing potential outbreaks, particularly at points of entry and in communities with links to international travel.

Atiku: US Lobbying Firm Raises Alarm Over Alleged Assassination Plot

A United States-based lobbying and policy advisory firm, Von Batten-Montague-York, L.C., has reportedly expressed concern over allegations of a possible threat to the life of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, according to reports attributed to the firm.

The allegation, which has emerged amid growing political activity ahead of the 2027 general elections, was reportedly raised by Timi Frank, a former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who has called on US President Donald Trump and other international leaders to pay attention to concerns over Atiku’s safety.

Frank has alleged that the former vice-president could face threats to his life and political freedom. However, the claim remains an allegation and has not been independently substantiated by publicly available evidence.

According to the reports, Von Batten-Montague-York, a lobbying firm reportedly engaged by Atiku for government affairs and strategic advisory services in the United States, intends to bring the concerns to the attention of US officials, including members of Congress and the Trump administration.

The reported move does not, in itself, establish that an assassination plot exists or that US authorities have confirmed the allegations. No independently verified evidence presented in the reports establishes that President Bola Tinubu or his administration is involved in any plan to harm Atiku.

The APC Presidential Campaign Council has rejected the allegation, insisting that Tinubu and the council have no involvement in any plot to assassinate Atiku or any other opposition figure.

The council’s spokesperson, Dele Alake, reportedly challenged Frank to provide evidence to support his claims, maintaining that such a serious allegation should not be treated as established fact without credible proof.

The council also called for any information concerning a genuine threat to be brought before the appropriate security agencies for investigation. It reportedly disputed claims that security personnel attached to Atiku had been withdrawn and maintained that the former vice-president remained under the protection of the relevant authorities.

According to statements attributed to the council, Tinubu had directed security agencies to strengthen protection for political candidates ahead of the 2027 elections. These assurances, however, do not independently resolve the specific allegations raised by Frank.

Frank’s appeal has renewed debate over the security of opposition politicians as preparations for the next general election gather momentum. He has urged international leaders and institutions to engage with the Nigerian government and seek assurances regarding the safety of opposition figures.

The lobbying firm’s reported intention to raise the matter with US officials has also drawn attention to the possibility of international scrutiny of concerns about political security in Nigeria. However, there is no independently confirmed information establishing that US authorities have opened a formal investigation into the alleged plot.

The claims and counterclaims have yet to establish that an assassination plot exists or identify any verified perpetrators. Any credible evidence of a threat to Atiku’s life would need to be assessed by the appropriate security agencies, while allegations of responsibility should be supported by verifiable evidence.

Atiku, a former vice-president and prominent opposition politician, remains a significant figure in Nigeria’s political landscape ahead of the 2027 elections. The controversy highlights the need for transparent investigation of credible security threats and careful distinction between allegations, official responses and independently established facts.

Atiku: US Lobbying Firm Raises Alarm Over Alleged Assassination Plot