According to the bus driver of an Imo State bus that was ambushed and its passengers abducted on Independence Day, five individuals have been apprehended by the DSS. The bus was carrying prospective recruits of the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC.
During Friday’s resumed trial of the five suspected kidnappers before the Imo State High Court in Mgbidi, the driver, who appeared as the third prosecution witness, made the identification.
Mr. Light Timothy, another prosecution witness, testified that he observed two of the defendants on the Owerri-Mgbidi-Onitsha motorway immediately after the abduction, each armed with an AK-47 rifle.
While testifying in chief and under cross-examination, both witnesses insisted that they witnessed the defendants allegedly committing crimes that included conspiracies, hostage-taking, and illegal gun possession.
The bus driver said before the court that the first defendant was easily identifiable as the assailant who came up to his vehicle with an AK-47 weapon.
In addition, he claimed to have witnessed the defendant escorting the 20 captive recruits into a neighbouring bush following their captivity.
As the driver explained it, he had close contact with the assailants throughout the incident, which allowed him to positively identify them.
The first and second defendants were recognised by Timothy as individuals who assaulted the bus after the kidnapping, according to his evidence.
The identification, he informed the court, was achieved at a processional held at the state headquarters of the DSS.
In an attempt to verify the bus driver’s identification during cross-examination, the defence attorney asked to see his ID.
The driver’s identification card allegedly had a colour portrait that looked strikingly like Justice Emeka Orafu, who oversaw the proceedings. Both witnesses’ statements and the driver’s ID were later entered as evidence.
Justice Orafu scheduled the trial until November 3, 4, 5, and 6, 2026, to continue the hearing, after the proceedings concluded.
On trial for their claimed roles in the kidnapping of the twenty potential NYSC recruits in Imo State are the five defendants.
On the dates set, the court is anticipated to resume hearing evidence from both the prosecution and the defence.