Toyyibat Qasim
Two men standing trial over the abduction of 20 prospective members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in Imo State have admitted making written and audio-visual confessional statements to operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS).
The defendants, Usman Aliyu and Babangida Aliyu, however, appealed to the court for forgiveness and freedom as proceedings continued in their trial over alleged conspiracy, hostage-taking and unlawful possession of firearms.
The defendants made the admissions on Thursday while being cross-examined during the resumed hearing, where they acknowledged that they voluntarily made the audio-visual statements and thumb-printed the written confessions in the presence of their lawyers.
The statements, tendered by the DSS, had earlier been admitted in evidence by the court.
Their admission is a significant development in the prosecution’s case, as the defendants confirmed their participation in the statement-taking process and the presence of legal counsel when the confessions were made.
Earlier, while opening their defence and testifying on their own behalf, the two accused persons had pleaded for forgiveness, asking the court to temper justice with mercy.
The case centres on the abduction of 20 prospective corps members in Imo State, an incident that raised fresh concerns about the safety of young Nigerians travelling for the mandatory national service programme.
In a related development, the trial of two other defendants facing charges of conspiracy, kidnapping and unlawful possession of firearms also continued on Thursday.
A prosecution witness identified the two accused persons as the individuals who allegedly abducted him for ransom in the state on October 4, 2026.
The identification formed part of the evidence presented by the prosecution in the separate case.
At the conclusion of Thursday’s proceedings, the presiding judge, Justice Emeka Orafu, adjourned both cases until November 6 for continuation of trial.
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