Nigeria, Oct. 21 -- The State Security Services (SSS), on Tuesday, arraigned three persons allegedly linked to the kidnapping of 20 prospective members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) on 1 October in Imo State.

The SSS also arraigned two other persons accused of kidnapping four additional persons in the state, three days after the NYSC members' incident.

The five defendants were arraigned at the Imo State High Court, Oru Judicial Division, Mgbidi, on the charges of abduction, conspiracy, hostage-taking and unlawful possession of firearms.

However, three of them - Usman Aliyu, 25, also known as Chonge; Babangida Aliyu, 21; and Mohammed Ali, 23, otherwise known as Smallie Pepper- specifically face three counts of abduction and...