Two men standing trial over the Independence Day abduction of 20 prospective National Youth Service Corps members in Imo State admitted on Thursday that the statements and audiovisual confessions tendered by the Department of State Services were theirs.
Usman Aliyu and Babangida Aliyu, the first and second defendants, however, begged the court for forgiveness.
At the resumed sitting, both men, under cross-examination, confirmed that they had confessed in their statements and thumb-printed the written documents before their counsel. The materials were tendered in court by the DSS.
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Earlier, during their evidence-in-chief, the defendants had pleaded with the court to forgive them and set them free on charges of conspiracy, hostage-taking and unlawful possession of firearms.
In a related matter, the trial of two other defendants over suspected conspiracy, kidnapping and unlawful possession of firearms continued, with a prosecution witness identifying both as the persons who abducted him for ransom in the state on October 4, 2026.
At the close of proceedings, the trial judge, Justice Emeka Orafu, adjourned both matters to November 6 for continuation.