NYSC Member Feared Dead Despite N10m Ransom

The family of National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member Abba fears the worst after kidnappers cut communication following a N10 million ransom payment. Initially demanding N10 million, the abductors collected the cash but then requested motorcycles, leaving the family in despair as silence ensued.

Kidnappers’ Brutality Exposed

A harrowing video captured Abba, battered and pleading in Hausa for his life amid relentless beatings by bandits wielding sticks, punches, and kicks. The corps member, exhausted and invoking Allah and Prophet Muhammad for mercy, begged Nigerians for help as attackers mocked him and stomped on his chest. This assault video surfaced before the ransom, highlighting the terrorists’ cruelty during his captivity in northern Nigeria.​

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Family’s Heartbreaking Response

With no word from captors since the payment, the family has halted further compliance and plans Janaza (Gha’ib) prayers in absentia on Friday, March 6, per Islamic tradition. They expressed gratitude to supporters for prayers and donations while clinging to faint hope: if alive, may he be freed; if deceased, may Allah grant him Jannah Firdaus. Abba’s friend Bello Nasir reportedly delivered the ransom, but release never followed.

Broader Insecurity Context

This incident underscores rising banditry targeting NYSC members and travelers in northern Nigeria, where abductions for ransom persist despite payments. Similar cases, like freed corper Rofiat Lawal after N1.1m, show inconsistent outcomes, fueling public outrage over security lapses. As of March 5, 2026, no official updates from authorities on Abba’s fate.