The Department of State Services on Tuesday presented in court three AK-47 rifles, four magazines, 81 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition and an unbranded English-made pistol allegedly used in the kidnapping of 20 prospective National Youth Service Corps members.
The weapons were tendered as the first prosecution witness, Ikechukwu Emmanuel, gave evidence before the court in the trial of three suspects, including Usman Aliyu. Principal State Counsel Ekezie Nwauzor led the witness.
Emmanuel told the court that Aliyu led security operatives to a thick bush near Okuku in Owerri West Local Government Area of Imo State, where the firearms had been hidden in a polythene bag and buried. The exhibits were later taken to the DSS office in Owerri.
The three accused persons confirmed that the recovered items were used in the abduction of the corps members, who were travelling to their orientation camps in Abia and Akwa Ibom states on October 1, 2026.
Relatives of the victims paid a total ransom of N48 million, of which N47 million was in dollars and N1 million in naira, the witness said. Aliyu stated during interrogation that the dollars were converted to naira. Only N155,200 was recovered from the three suspects at the time of their arrest.
The court ordered that the firearms, ammunition and cash be kept in the custody of the Armourer at the DSS State Command in Owerri.
Hearing in the suit, numbered HOU/22C/2026, continues on Wednesday.
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