The driver of a bus conveying 20 prospective members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) abducted in Imo state has identified five men standing trial over the incident as the suspects who attacked his vehicle and took the passengers hostage.

Testifying as the third prosecution witness, the driver told the state high court in Mgbidi, Imo state, on Friday that he recognised the men, especially the first defendant, who allegedly approached his bus with an AK-47 rifle.

He said the same defendant later marched the 20 prospective corps members into a nearby bush after the abduction.

Another prosecution witness, identified as Light Timothy, told the court that he saw two of the defendants carrying AK-47 rifles shortly after the abduction along the Owerri–Mgbidi–Onitsha expressway.

Timothy said he later identified the first and second defendants as members of the gang during an identification parade conducted at the state office of the Department of State Services (DSS).

Both witnesses testified at the resumed trial of five men accused of involvement in the abduction.

During cross-examination, defence counsel requested the driver’s identity card. Emeka Orafu, the presiding judge, confirmed that the photograph on the document bore a strong resemblance to the witness.

The driver’s identity card and the testimonies of both witnesses were subsequently admitted in evidence.

The defendants — Mohammed Ali, Usman Aliyu, Babangida Aliyu, Ibrahim Jiji and Aminu Haliru — were arraigned by the DSS over the abduction of 20 prospective corps members and a civilian.

The DSS had said three of the defendants — Aliyu, 25, also known as Chonge; Babangida, 21; and Ali, 23, also known as Smallie Pepper — were specifically charged with kidnapping the prospective corps members.

They are accused of conspiracy to commit hostage-taking under the Imo State Prohibition of Hostage Taking and Related Offences Law No. 4 of 2009.

The five men were also accused of unlawfully possessing three AK-47 rifles, four magazines, a pistol and 81 rounds of live ammunition.

The victims were abducted on October 1, when gunmen attacked two 18-seater buses conveying passengers from Ibadan, the Oyo state capital, to NYSC orientation camps in Abia and Akwa Ibom states.

The attack occurred around 6:30 am near Umunoha in Mbaitoli LGA of Imo state.

Ten victims were rescued shortly after the incident, while the remaining abductees were freed on October 7 by a joint team of DSS, military and police operatives at Amakohia-Ubi forest in the state.

Five suspects were subsequently arrested in Rivers and Abia states between October 10 and 14, while three other suspects reportedly escaped during the operations with gunshot wounds.

At the end of Friday’s proceedings, the judge adjourned the trial to November 3, 4, 5 and 6, 2026, for continuation of the hearing.

•  Arthur Eze, non-indigenes back APC candidates from top to bottom

•  Group donates N50m towards reelection bid

A political support group, Nwanne Di Na Mba Grand Assembly, on Friday endorsed Enugu State Governor, Dr. Peter Mbah, and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for re-election in 2027, pledging to mobilise support for all candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the forthcoming general elections.

The group, which has Anambra-born billionaire businessman, Prince Arthur Eze, as its Grand Patron, made the declaration during a rally held at Okpara Square, Enugu, attended by supporters drawn from different ethnic and religious backgrounds.

Speaking at the event, Governor Mbah described the massive turnout as an expression of democracy in action, thanking the group for what he called an open demonstration of love, solidarity and confidence in his administration and the Federal Government.

Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State

He said the gathering reflected the willingness of people from different parts of the country to unite in support of President Tinubu’s re-election and the continuation of his administration’s development programmes in Enugu State.

Mbah, who attributed some of the state’s development strides to the economic reforms of the Tinubu administration, said increased financial resources available to subnational governments had enabled his administration to implement projects across critical sectors.

“Because you believe in what you can see, what you can touch and what you can feel. Can you see the Type-2 Primary Healthcare Centres? Can you see the good roads? Do you drive on them? Now you can drive on smooth roads, send your children to high-quality schools and access affordable healthcare,” he said.

The governor listed the 260 Type-2 Primary Healthcare Centres and 268 Smart Green Schools among the projects through which his administration was translating the opportunities created by the Federal Government’s reforms into tangible development outcomes.

He maintained that Enugu’s progress was linked to the policies of the Tinubu administration, urging residents to support the President’s re-election to enable both governments to consolidate their achievements.

According to him, the state was also benefiting from improved connectivity and emerging regional economic opportunities, including the establishment of the South East Development Commission, the proposed gas pipeline network across the South-East and the concessioning of the Akanu Ibiam International Airport.

He said the proposed developments would facilitate industrialisation, trade, cargo operations and international connectivity, adding that the ongoing transformation of the state and region should be sustained.

“Enugu means home to all of us. We all have a stake in Enugu, and that is why you have come out in your numbers to say that the good work and hard work must continue,” he said.

Mbah urged eligible residents to obtain their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) and participate in the 2027 elections, calling for support for Tinubu and all APC candidates contesting for elective positions.

He also assured the people that his administration would build on the progress recorded so far, saying, “With the strength I see here today, with the energy and resolve you have demonstrated, we are committing to do more. What you should expect is more.”

In his remarks, Grand Patron of the group, Prince Arthur Eze, described Mbah as a leader who related positively with people and maintained good relationships across political and social divides.

He said the governor’s support for President Tinubu and the confidence the President had in him were reasons the group was backing both leaders.

“Peter Mbah is supporting Tinubu very well, and we will support him because he will bring a lot to Ndi Igbo through Tinubu, because Tinubu trusts him very well. We cannot abandon him because he never abandoned anyone,” Eze said.

He urged the people of Enugu to support both leaders in the forthcoming elections, expressing confidence that their administrations would create more opportunities for the people.

Also speaking, the Sarkin Hausawa, Alhaji Abubakar Yusuf Sambo, who is also the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Special Duties, said the rally was organised to appreciate Mbah’s administration for its inclusive governance and the opportunities extended to non-indigenes living in the state.

Sambo, who spoke on behalf of Yoruba, Tiv and other ethnic communities, said members of the different communities had benefited from the administration’s programmes, particularly in education, healthcare, infrastructure and political appointments.

He said children from non-indigene communities had access to Smart Green Schools, while their mothers benefited from the Type-2 Primary Healthcare Centres. He also commended the administration’s road infrastructure projects.

“We are happy with your governance and the way you have been carrying us along in Enugu State. We are part of all the programmes going on in the state,” he said.

Sambo pledged the group’s support for Mbah and Tinubu, declaring that its members would vote for APC candidates across all elective positions, from the presidency to the State House of Assembly.

He added that the rally was a preliminary demonstration of the group’s mobilisation capacity ahead of the planned visit of President Tinubu to the state.

Earlier, the Convener of the group and Executive Chairman of the Enugu Capital Territory Development Authority, Barr. Uche Anya, said the rally was only the beginning of a broader mobilisation effort by non-indigenes and residents of the state’s urban centres in support of the governor’s second-term ambition.

Anya said the people appreciated Mbah’s development initiatives and would resist any attempt to undermine or reverse the administration’s achievements.

He disclosed that non-indigenes in the municipality had mandated him to communicate their resolve to support the governor and President Tinubu in 2027.

According to him, the communities were also committed to voting for all APC candidates, citing the Federal Government’s support for Enugu State and Tinubu’s role in integrating the state into the mainstream of national politics.

“The non-indigenes in the municipality promise that the mistakes of 2023 will never happen again. They will vote President Tinubu for his good works, for integrating Enugu into the mainstream of Nigerian politics and for believing in you,” Anya said.

He added that the group’s message was one of appreciation for both the state and Federal Government, reaffirming its commitment to the APC’s candidates in the 2027 general elections.

The highpoint of the event was the endorsement and the presentation of a cheque for N50M million to Governor Mbah.

The rally attracted several dignitaries, including the Speaker of the Enugu State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Uche Ugwu; Deputy National Chairman (South) of the APC, Dr. Ben Nwoye; Enugu State APC Chairman, Dr. Martin Chukwunwike; Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Dr. Kingsley Udeh (SAN); members of the National and State Assemblies; members of the State Executive Council; other government appointees and party faithful.

A tenant has reportedly smashed his landlord’s head during a violent altercation in Benin City, Edo State, following a disagreement over an alleged rent increase from ₦300,000 to ₦1 million.

In a video shared online by Edo TV on Friday, October 30, 2026, the tenant narrated how the disagreement began and escalated into a physical confrontation.

According to the tenant, the incident occurred in the morning when his landlord confronted him over tiling work he had carried out in the apartment using his personal funds to improve the property for his business.

He alleged that the landlord demanded additional payment for the renovation before subsequently increasing his rent from ₦300,000 to ₦1 million.

The tenant further claimed that the situation turned violent after the landlord slapped him during their confrontation, prompting him to retaliate by hitting the landlord on the head.

Narrating his side of the incident, the tenant said, “He slapped me first and out of my defence, I smashed his head. It wasn’t intentional.”

The altercation reportedly left the landlord with serious head injuries.

However, further details about the landlord’s condition and whether the police had intervened were not immediately available as of the time of filing this report.