On Friday, October 30, 2026, the driver of a bus that was ambushed while transporting twenty prospective NYSC members in Imo State identified five men arrested by the DSS as the attackers, and the trial was subsequently postponed to November 3‑6, 2026.
Key facts presented to the court included: the driver’s clear recognition of the first defendant who approached the vehicle with an AK‑47; the same suspect leading the corps members into a nearby bush; another witness, Light Timothy, spotting two defendants with rifles after the abduction; and the admission of the driver’s identity card as corroborating evidence.
What did the driver testify?
The bus driver, called as the third prosecution witness, stated that he saw the first defendant brandishing an AK‑47 as the assailants opened fire on his vehicle. He further recounted that the same individual forced the twenty corps members out of the bus and marched them into a dense bush, confirming his identification based on the direct encounter during the attack.
What did the second witness observe?
Mr. Light Timothy, the other prosecution witness, testified that he observed the first and second defendants shortly after the kidnapping along the Owerri–Mgbidi–Onitsha expressway. He identified both men during an identification parade held at the DSS state office, asserting that they were among those who assaulted the bus.
During cross‑examination, defence counsel requested to see the driver’s identity card to verify his identity. Justice Emeka Orafu, presiding over the case at the [Imo State High Court] (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ImoStateHigh_Court), confirmed that the colour photograph on the card closely matched the driver, and the document was admitted into evidence alongside the testimonies.
The court concluded the day’s hearing by adjourning the trial to November 3, 4, 5 and 6, 2026, to allow further presentation of evidence by both prosecution and defence. The five accused remain in custody pending the continuation of the trial, which will determine their alleged involvement in the kidnapping of the NYSC corps members.
The proceedings underscore the ongoing security challenges faced by NYSC participants in the region and the judicial system’s effort to bring the alleged kidnappers to justice.