A commercial motorcyclist, often called an okadama, told the Federal High Court on Friday that he had no knowledge his two passengers were carrying AK‑47 rifles when they were hired to transport them to a remote location. The testimony formed part of the ongoing suit HOU/22C/2026, filed against Usman Aliyu, Mohamed Aliyu and Babangida Ali over the abduction of twenty prospective National Youth Service Corps members travelling to orientation camps in Abia and Akwa Ibom states.
Key facts presented in court
- The rider, identified as Mr. Light Timothy, said the suspects hired him on October 1, 2026, to travel along the Umuguma‑Okuku Road in Owerri West Local Government Area of Imo State.
- He observed his passengers carrying a bag whose contents he only discovered after they reached a secluded spot, where the bag was opened and AK‑47 rifles were revealed.
- Timothy recounted that a voice sounding Hausa or Fulani instructed him to take the route, and later four men emerged from the bush, seized the bag and displayed the weapons.
- He claimed he feared for his life and was only allowed to leave after one of the men pleaded on his behalf.
- A second witness, driver Mr. Sunday Udoh of the Akwa Ibom Transport Company, corroborated that two minibuses were stopped near a checkpoint on the same road, and that five passengers from his vehicle and fifteen from a companion’s bus were taken into the bush by the kidnappers.
What did the motorcycle rider testify?
The rider explained that he never inspected the bag before the journey and only realized its lethal contents when the suspects opened it at the destination. He said the passengers’ conversation hinted at a Hausa or Fulani accent, prompting him to follow directions toward the Umuguma‑Okuku Road.
How did the other driver describe the incident?
Mr. Udoh narrated that after leaving Onitsha at 5:30 am on October 1, his vehicle, along with another driven by a colleague named Jeremiah, headed toward Owerri. Upon passing a checkpoint, he noticed two stationary minibuses. Attempting to reverse, his vehicle struck an unseen obstacle, forcing him to stop. He then fled to the roadside bush, where he observed the attackers seize passengers from both buses.
Who identified the attackers?
During his testimony, Udoh identified Usman Aliyu as one of the men who participated in the abduction. He stated that the kidnappers removed a total of twenty passengers—five from his own bus and fifteen from Jeremiah’s—into the surrounding vegetation.
After the defence counsel, Paschal Ofoma, cross‑examined the witnesses, Justice Emeka Orafu adjourned the hearing to November 3, 2026 for further proceedings.
The case underscores the challenges faced by the Department of State Services in curbing organized kidnappings targeting young graduates en route to their national service assignments.