A graduate of the University of Jos, UNIJOS, John Azi Arum, has recounted his traumatic experience after he was lured with a fake job offer, abducted, and taken to a kidnappers’ camp in Zamfara State.
Arum, who recounted his ordeal at a church in Tudun Wada, Jos North Local Government Area, Plateau State, yesterday after regaining his freedom, claimed he was kidnapped on April 11, 2026, immediately after traveling from Jos to Zaria, Kaduna State, for what he thought was a legitimate work opportunity.
According to him, the alleged kidnappers had regularly called him on the phone, offering him a welding job and even sending him a transportation ticket to persuade him the offer was legitimate.
“They kept calling me, asking me to come and work for them. They even sent transport money, so I believed it was real work,” he said.
Azi claimed that upon landing in Zaria, he phoned the folks who told him to board another motorcycle headed towards a settlement. Despite becoming suspicious during the drive, he ignored the warning signs because he urgently needed a job.
He stated that, although becoming suspicious during the travel, he ignored the warning signs because he was desperate for a job.
“I started having doubts, but I told myself maybe it was a connection that could help me. I did not know they were kidnappers,” he said.
According to him, shortly after arriving in the village, a man approached him, claiming to be the person who had contacted him about the work.
He was then brought on a motorcycle into a lonely wooded location, where he discovered another highly armed man waiting for them.
“I saw a gun I had never seen before in my life. The man told me not to be afraid and claimed the person was a hunter, but deep down I knew something was wrong,” he recounted.
Arum claimed he was immediately made to kneel down as the kidnappers searched him, confiscated his phone, luggage, and work equipment, and handed him weird clothes and a face mask to wear.
According to Arum, the kidnappers took him from Kaduna through the Giwa Local Government Area to Zamfara State after several hours of riding motorcycles through forests and remote roads.
“We spent almost six hours moving through the bush on motorcycles. There was no security anywhere,” he said.
Arum disclosed that upon arriving at the camp, the kidnappers tied his hands and legs and contacted his family, demanding N30 million ransom.
“I gave them my elder brother’s number. They called and demanded N30 million,” he said.
Azi also described how he was tortured frequently and probed about his religion while in captivity.
According to him, his kidnappers accused him of being a Christian and threatened to kill him.
“They were shooting guns everywhere and asking questions. Out of fear, I initially denied being a Christian because I thought they would kill me,” he said.
However, he noted that after a severe beating by the abductors, he eventually confessed his faith.
“While they were beating me, I suddenly shouted, ‘Jesus.’ That was when they discovered I was a Christian,” he added.
According to him, the captors called him “Pastor” during his imprisonment.
He stated that continuous prayers and faith in God kept him alive during the ordeal.
“The only thing I kept doing was praying and asking God to save me,” he said.
He explained that, following discussions, the kidnappers dropped their ransom demand from N30 million to N6 million.
However, despite collecting the money, the abductors allegedly delayed his release and wanted a further N4 million.
“They started beating me again and said my family should add another N4 million. At that point, I thought I would not survive,” he said.
According to him, support from relatives, friends, and sympathizers eventually helped secure his release after several days in prison.
The UNIJOS graduate claimed he won his freedom and returned home traumatized but thankful to be alive.
