Abducted NYSC Corps Member Abba Surfaces Alive in New Video, Debunks Family’s Death Claims After N10m Ransom!

Lagos  – In a dramatic turn of events that has left Nigerians in shock and relief, an abducted National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member simply identified as Abba has appeared in a fresh video released by his captors, confirming he is still alive.

The video, which surfaced on Sunday, shows the young corps member speaking from what appears to be the kidnappers’ den. In the footage, Abba clearly states that the recording was made on the 19th day of Ramadan, directly contradicting earlier fears that he had been killed.

As previously reported by NaijaChoice News, Abba’s family had announced that they believed the corps member was dead after paying a whopping N10 million ransom to the abductors, only for communication to suddenly stop. Distraught and with no further word from the kidnappers, the family even held a funeral prayer in absentia (Janaza Gha’ib) in line with Islamic rites.

But the new video has changed everything.

Recall that Abba, a serving NYSC corps member, was abducted on January 9, 2026, by suspected bandits while travelling from Gusau in Zamfara State to Sokoto State. The family had raised and paid the initial N10 million demand, hoping for his safe release. Instead, the abductors went silent, sparking widespread mourning and prayers across social media.

Sources familiar with the latest development told NaijaChoice News that the kidnappers are now making fresh demands, including the provision of two motorcycles, before they will set Abba free.

In the video, the visibly alive but distressed corps member is seen pleading for urgent intervention and continued prayers from Nigerians.

The development has sparked mixed reactions online, with many calling on security agencies to intensify efforts to rescue the young man and bring the bandits to justice. Others expressed outrage over the rising cases of kidnapping targeting even NYSC personnel in parts of the North-West.

NaijaChoice News gathered that Abba’s family is now in renewed negotiations with the abductors even as they continue to appeal to the federal and state governments, as well as well-meaning Nigerians, to assist in securing his freedom.

This latest twist comes amid growing concerns over the safety of corps members posted to volatile areas, with many stakeholders urging the NYSC to review its posting policies for high-risk states.