A commercial driver who transported two men later linked to the kidnapping of prospective National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members has told a court that he did not know they were carrying AK-47 rifles in their bag.
The driver, Light Timothy, gave evidence on Friday during the trial of Usman Aliyu, Mohamed Aliyu and Babangida Ali over the abduction of 20 prospective corps members travelling to their orientation camps in Abia and Akwa Ibom states.
The Department of State Services (DSS) called two witnesses in the case, filed as suit HOU/22C/2026.
Led in evidence by Principal State Counsel Ekezie Nwauzor, Timothy, the second prosecution witness, explained how the first and second defendants hired him to take them to a location where their colleagues were staying.
He said the two men carried a bag but did not reveal what was inside. According to him, he only discovered its contents when they reached a lonely location and four men emerged from a nearby bush, collected the bag and brought out AK-47 rifles.
Timothy recalled that one of the passengers made a phone call and spoke in an accent that sounded Hausa or Fulani. The person on the other end reportedly directed them to use the Umuguma-Okuku Road in Owerri West Local Government Area of Imo State.
He said fear later gripped him and he considered turning back. He also told the court that one of the men pleaded on his behalf after he was threatened, allowing him to escape.
The third prosecution witness, Sunday Udoh, an Akwa Ibom Transport Company driver, also testified. He said he and another driver, Jeremiah, were transporting NYSC members from Ibadan to their orientation camps.
Udoh said they stopped at Onitsha before departing at 5:30am on October 1, 2026. While travelling towards Owerri, shortly after passing a checkpoint, he noticed two stationary minibuses.
He said he tried to reverse after sensing danger, but his vehicle struck an object behind and became stuck. He switched off the engine, ran across the highway and hid in nearby bushes.
From his hiding place, Udoh said he watched the attackers take five passengers from his bus and 15 from Jeremiah’s vehicle into the bush. He also identified Usman Aliyu as one of the attackers.
After cross-examination by defence counsel Paschal Ofoma, Justice Emeka Orafu adjourned the case until November 3, 2026, for further hearing.
