By ZAGAZOLA MAKAMA

An abducted National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member, Abba, has appeared in a new video released by his captors, debunking earlier reports by his family that he had been killed.

The video, which surfaced on Sunday, showed the corps member alive and speaking from what appeared to be the kidnappers’ den.

In the footage, Abba stated that the recording was made on the 19th day of Ramadan, contradicting earlier claims by his family that he might have been killed after communication with the abductors stopped.

The family had earlier announced that they feared the corps member was dead after paying a ransom of N10 million to the kidnappers without receiving further communication from them.

They had also held funeral prayer in absentia (Janaza Gha’ib) in accordance with Islamic rites following the prolonged silence from the abductors.

However, the newly released video indicates that the corps member is still alive in captivity.

Sources familiar with the development said the abductors were still making fresh demands, including the provision of two motorcycles, for his release. (Zagazola)